In a bizarre turn of events, a much-anticipated wedding reception in Hubballi was held with the bride and groom attending virtually, all thanks to a last-minute flight cancellation by IndiGo. The couple, along with several family members, were left stranded in Bhubaneswar, unable to reach the venue for their own grand celebration.
A Grand Reception Missing Its Stars
The stage was perfectly set in Hubballi on December 2. The reception hall was booked, guests had gathered, and all rituals were scheduled. The only people missing were the newlyweds, Sangam Das and Medha Ksheerasagar. As guests took their seats, the couple finally made their appearance—not in person, but via a video link from Bhubaneswar.
Dressed in their full wedding finery, Sangam and Medha went through the motions of the reception on screen, completing the event remotely. In a poignant moment, Medha's parents, Anil Kumar and his wife, sat in the chairs reserved for the couple at the venue. This image became a stark symbol of the disruption faced by the families and another face of the ongoing issues plaguing airline passengers.
The Chain of Events Leading to the Fiasco
The couple, who work in Bengaluru, had gotten married on November 23. They had planned a grand reception in Hubballi for their family and friends. For this, they had booked IndiGo tickets from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru, with a connecting flight to Hubballi on December 2. Tickets for several relatives were also booked for the same journey.
The trouble began early on December 2. Family members stated that IndiGo staff repeatedly informed them that their flight was "delayed". This communication continued from 9 am late into the night, keeping the passengers in a state of uncertainty. Finally, on the morning of December 3—just hours before the reception was to begin—the airline informed them that the flight had been cancelled.
With no feasible alternative travel arrangements available at such short notice, the bride, groom, and their relatives were stuck in Bhubaneswar. The meticulously planned in-person celebration was in jeopardy.
Families Left with No Option But to Go Online
Expressing his frustration, the bride's father, Anil Kumar, told the Times of India that timely information from the airline could have saved the day. "If IndiGo had informed us earlier, we could have made other arrangements. Because they did not provide timely information, the reception had to be held online," he said.
He stressed that the reception could have proceeded as originally planned had the airline acted responsibly and communicated the cancellation sooner. "Because they didn't provide proper information, we had no option," Kumar added.
During the virtual reception, the couple apologised to their guests with folded hands for not being able to attend in person. They profusely thanked everyone for adapting to the situation and making the best of the disrupted moment.
This incident highlights the very real human cost of flight cancellations and poor communication by airlines, turning a moment of joy into a logistical nightmare for families.
