COVID-19: Indian groom breaks lockdown cycle to his wedding, lands in a quarantine

How far will you go to get married? Well, an Indian groom-to-be broke the country's lockdown rules and decided to cycle for nearly a 1000 kilometers to his hometown for his wedding.

The 24-year-old man Sonu Kumar Chauhan pedaled his way, 850 km from Ludhiana in the Indian state of Punjab, to somehow reach in time for his wedding slated for April 15 in Uttar Pradesh.

On April 19, some Twitter users in India shared news reports about Chauhan, who works in a tile factory in Ludhiana. He set out on his bicycle as all other means of transportation were closed down because of the coronavirus lockdown. He was accompanied by three of his friends.

According to reports, the group of four covered a distance of 850 km, cycling day and night for a week.

However, on Sunday they were caught by the authorities as they entered the Balrampur district in UP. All four were sent to a quarantine center. Chauhan’s home was still 150km away in Pipra Rasulpur in Maharajganj district.

Indian news website ndtv.com reported that Chauhan said: “Had I reached home, about 150 km from here, there were chances that the wedding would have taken place without any fanfare but the authorities did not allow me to go home despite requests.”

The four men will be sent home from quarantine in 14 days if they don't show symptoms, officials have confirmed.

India has extended the coronavirus lockdown till May 3. But, that has not stopped couples in India from saying ‘I do’. Previous reports from the country show that many couples chose to go ahead with their wedding schedules with limited guests and zero fanfare, while following social distancing rules.

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