CHENNAI: A desperate couple from south Indian state Tamil Nadu irked many of the social media users who lambasted the newlywed couple and private airline for flouting Covid rules amid skyrocketing Covid resurgence in the world’s second-most populous country.
The couple, Rakesh and Dakshina, booked a chartered jet of the private airline on May 23 from Madurai to Bangalore to perform traditional wedding rituals amid the restriction due to the deadly wave of pandemic.
The chartered plane hovered over Meenakshi Amman Temple of Tamil Nadu while the young ones performed the customs.
The whole event got roasted as a large number of social media users shared the footage and pictures in which the bride and groom donning in traditional attires exchanged ties while at least 170 unmasked guests flocked with them cheering the mid-air event. Hardly any of the guests were wearing masks while the social-distancing rules were purportedly flouted.
Rakesh-Dakshina from Madurai, who rented a plane for two hours and got married in the wedding sky. Family members who flew from Madurai to Bangalore after getting married by SpiceJet flight from Bangalore to Madurai. #COVID19India #lockdown @TV9Telugu #weddingrestrictions pic.twitter.com/9nDyn3MM4n
— DONTHU RAMESH (@DonthuRamesh) May 23, 2021
Soon after the public outcry, the Indian aviation body, DGCA, de-rostered the flight crew. All the accused will be grounded and no longer flying until the completion of the internal probe as a number of crew members spotted taking pictures with the newlywed.
DGCA has initiated investigations on mid-air marriage. It has sought a full report from the airline & Airport Authority. SpiceJet crew is off rostered. Airline directed to lodge complaint against those not following COVID appropriate behavior with relevant authorities: DGCA pic.twitter.com/aTNyjIKOFO
— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
According to some reports in Indian media, airport staffers and flight attendants denied the involvement. We were unaware of the wedding ceremony. The guests booked the flight as post-wedding joy, the airline added.
They also justified the act saying the passengers did not follow guidelines despite repeated requests.
The south Asian country in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19 beefed up strict rules for aviation. Many of the states have imposed strict lockdowns over the past month as the country suffers a catastrophic wave in which more than 300,000 have succumbed to the disease.
This is not the first bizarre wedding in India as earlier a couple in Kerala state got hitched inside a state-run medical facility where the couple donned a PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, kit in as the groom was admitted after tested positive for Covid.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: A couple in Ratlam tied the knot wearing PPE kits as the groom is #COVID19 positive, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/mXlUK2baUh
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2021
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