Newlywed Engineer Couple Attends Own Reception on Video Call After IndiGo Flight Chaos

In a wedding twist no one saw coming, a Bengaluru-based software engineer couple from Karnataka and Odisha had to “attend” their own grand reception in Hubballi through a video call after a series of IndiGo flight cancellations left them stranded in Bhubaneswar.

Medha Kshirsagar, a Hubballi native, and Sangam Das from Bhubaneswar had solemnised their marriage on November 23 in the Odisha capital. The couple, both IT professionals working in Bengaluru, had planned a lavish reception on December 3 at Gujarat Bhavan in Hubballi, Medha’s hometown.

They booked IndiGo flights to reach Hubballi on December 2 via Bengaluru, but repeated delays turned into outright cancellation on the morning of December 3. The airline has been grappling with a severe pilot shortage and operational bottlenecks, leading to the cancellation of over 500 flights on Thursday alone – the highest single-day figure in its history.

With the venue fully decorated, catering arranged and hundreds of guests already arriving, postponing the event was impossible. In an impromptu solution, the bride and groom – still in Bhubaneswar and dressed in their wedding finery – joined the reception virtually. Medha’s parents occupied the seats meant for the couple on stage while relatives and guests watched the newlyweds greet everyone, exchange pleasantries and even cut the cake together over video conferencing.

IndiGo, which operates around 2,200 flights daily, has informed passengers that disruptions are likely to continue until at least December 8 as it works to stabilise schedules.

The unusual “digital darshan” of the bride and groom has since gone viral on social media, with many hailing the family’s quick thinking and the couple’s cheerful spirit amid the travel ordeal.