Groom dies days after wedding linked to dozens of coronavirus cases in India

A groom in India died two days after his wedding in the eastern part of the country and dozens of people connected to the ceremony have now tested positive for the coronavirus, according to multiple reports.

Approximately 400 guests were tested after the June 15 wedding in the city of Paliganj, CNN reported.

The groom felt sick before the wedding, vomiting and experiencing headaches, Paliganj district official Surendra Kumar confirmed, according to the outlet. The groom had traveled more than 600 miles from Gurgaon, and a doctor did not report his symptoms before the event or test him for coronavirus. 

The groom, who was a software engineer living near New Delhi, told friends that the wedding would be “remembered forever” as a “corona marriage,” The New York Times reported.

After the ceremony, his family took him to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. 

Estimates of how many guests and those who came into contact with guests have ranged from 80 to more than 100 in multiple reports.

The groom was never tested for COVID-19 because he was cremated before authorities were informed of his sickness, CBS News reported. A wedding guest later alerted health officials, prompting testing for other guests and contacts. 

Officials have now opened an investigation into the gathering, the outlet reported. 

“Our first priority now is to prevent the infection and break the chain. We have sealed parts of the neighbouring Meetha Kuan, Khagari and some parts of the suburban marketplace of Paliganj,” Paliganj Block Development Officer Chiranjeev Pandey told The Indian Express.

The bride tested negative for the virus, according to multiple reports. 

India has recorded 604,641 cases of COVID-19 amid the ongoing outbreak and 17,834 total fatalities.