Mangalore: Coronavirus has not only claimed scores of lives and triggered a scare across the world but also held back Gaurav of Kumapala village from tying the knot on Monday.
For, Gaurav, an employee of Star Cruise, could not arrive in Mangaluru on Friday for his wedding on February 10 as the cruise-liner remained anchored near Hong Kong with the authorities undertaking repeated screening of all employees and others onboard.
“He (Gaurav) had come to Mangaluru about eight months ago and we had fixed the wedding on February 10. Though he was supposed to arrive on January 26, the authorities have held up the ship at Hong Kong as a precautionary measure,” Sabitha Raj, his relative, told the media in Mangaluru on Saturday, adding his family has remained in constant touch with the groom.
“The authorities had assured to send everyone back once they test negative. He has tested negative about 3-4 times, but it looks like they are taking precautions and are not sending any of the personnel or passengers out in a hurry,” she added.
In Mangaluru, Gaurav’s relatives arrived from distant places as they could not cancel the ticket at the last moment. “We have sent a message to all our relatives and friends that the wedding has been postponed, but some who could not cancel the tickets have arrived.”
