A 22-year-old groom reportedly died from a suspected snakebite on his wedding night in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, turning what should have been a joyous celebration into a heartbreaking tragedy.
According to Indian media reports, the deceased, identified as Bablu Maurya, was married on Wednesday and brought his bride, Neetu, to his home on Thursday.
At around 3:00 a.m., Bablu suddenly complained of severe abdominal pain and called out to his father for help. His family immediately rushed him to a nearby clinic before transferring him to a Community Health Centre.
Doctors there suspected that he had been bitten by a snake and referred him to a medical college for specialized treatment. However, according to the reports, treatment was delayed and the venom had already spread throughout his body.
Bablu died during the night between Thursday and Friday, while his last rites were performed on Saturday morning.
His father, Kunwarpal Maurya, said the family did not initially realize that Bablu had suffered a snakebite because there were no visible bite marks on his body.
He said the sudden tragedy had turned the happiness of the newlywed couple and their families into profound grief.