Kerala groom marries injured bride on hospital bed. Internet is reminded of 'Vivah'

The video of the ceremony quickly went viral online, prompting comparisons to a sequence from the 2006 Bollywood film 'Vivah'.

A wedding took a dramatic turn in Kerala after a car accident led a couple to exchange vows inside the emergency department of a hospital in Kochi. The bride, Avani, a school teacher from Kommadi in Alappuzha, had been travelling early in the morning for her bridal makeup when the vehicle she was in lost control and crashed into a tree, according to the hospital, Times of India reported.

The accident occurred at about 3 am, and local residents quickly brought Avani to Kottayam Medical College. Because she sustained spinal injuries, she was later transferred to VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Ernakulam for specialised treatment.

Despite the trauma, both families insisted on not postponing the wedding, which had been scheduled for that day. Hospital authorities consulted with medical staff and agreed to permit a ceremony in the emergency ward.

At the appointed muhurtam (auspicious time) — reported to be between 12:15 pm and 12:30 pm — V. M. Sharon, an engineering professor, tied the thaali (sacred thread) around Avani’s neck as she lay on a hospital bed. Doctors, nurses and close relatives served as witnesses, according to The New Indian Express.

A hospital spokesperson said the management made the arrangement to prioritise her comfort, adding that the ceremony was carried out so that she did not face any additional discomfort or delay. According to Dr Sudheesh Karunakaran, head of neurosurgery at Lakeshore Hospital, Avani would soon require spinal surgery.

The video of the ceremony quickly went viral online, prompting comparisons to a sequence from the 2006 Bollywood film "Vivah". On social media, one user wrote, “This type of love reminds me of Vivah.”

Yet others questioned the urgency of marrying in such circumstances: “Let her at least recover...What’s the urgency of tying the knot in a hospital bed?” wrote someone else.

According to Deccan Chronicle, Sharon said he and Avani had been in a relationship for many years with the full support of both families. He expressed confidence in her recovery, stating she would require “full care and support.”