Groom Ignores Flu And Gets Married, Dies Of COVID-19 Five Days After Wedding

A 26-year-old man, who refused to postpone his marriage despite having flu-like symptoms, died five days after tying the knot from COVID-19.

Sanjay Kumar Nayak, from the Indian state of Odisha, was having fever and flu-like symptoms when he returned home from the city of Bengaluru on May 7. His wedding was scheduled on May 10 with a woman from a nearby village, The New Indian Express reported.

Despite Nayak feeling extremely unwell, both the families decided to go ahead with the marriage ceremony, ignoring the government directive. They didn't want to bear the financial loss they would incur if the ceremony was canceled.

Though he isolated himself at home after the wedding, his condition worsened after three days. On May 13, he tested positive for COVID-19. He died two days later.

"When his condition deteriorated on May 15, his family members decided to take him to the capital city of Bhubaneswar but he succumbed on the way," said Dr. Bibek Rout, a medical officer at the nearby community health center.

After learning about the marriage ceremony, authorities rushed to Nayak's home to collect samples of the family members. The bride is also under strict isolation. Health officials are now in the process of ascertaining how many have taken part in the ceremony, on fears that the event may have turned into a super-spreader. Efforts are on to trace contacts, officials said.

"A special medical camp has been set up in the village to test other people for COVID-19 as we are apprehensive of the wedding function turning into a super-spreader," Rout told News 18.

According to the state government guidelines, every function, including weddings, have to be carried out by strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols. At present, the government allows 50 people to participate in a marriage event.

In a similar incident, a recently married woman died Saturday after a battle with COVID-19. Swarnalata Pal, whose marriage was held on April 28, experienced a mild fever a few days after her wedding. On Saturday, she experienced shortness of breath. However, despite an extensive search, her relatives couldn't arrange adequate medical facilities for her.