Groom among five arrested for violating COVID-19 guidelines during marriage procession in Odisha

Odisha Police have arrested five persons including groom for gross negligence and violation of COVID-19 guidelines during his marriage procession in Berhampur. The District Collector has sealed the hotel for violating the COVID-19 norms.

Bhubaneswar: The father of a groom and his brother were arrested on Saturday in Odisha's Ganjam district, a COVID-19 hotspot, for violating safety protocols during the marriage function, police said.

The district administration has also imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 and registered FIR against other family members of the groom and bride in this connection, they said.

"On a charge of violation of COVID-19 rules for marriage in Berhampur, Rs 50,000 fine was collected and FIR filed against both the parties," Ganjam Collector V A Kulange said.

"Our joy should not ruin others'' lives," he said.

The groom's father and his brother have been held, SP (Berhampur) Pinak Mishra said.

The incident came to the fore after a video surfaced, in which guests were seen without masks and dancing close to each other at the marriage procession, and many holding hands.

According to the state government's COVID-19 guidelines, a maximum of 50 people can participate in a marriage function, while strictly adhering to social distancing norms and wearing masks Kulange said attendees of the marriage procession will be sent to institutional quarantine.

Sources said a well-known hotelier in the town had obtained permission from the authorities for his son's marriage at a hotel at Gopalpur-on-Sea on July 2.

The hotel has reportedly been sealed for seven days, they said.

Following the incident, the Chief Minister's office tweeted: "Odisha is in a crucial phase in the fight against COVID-19, hence, it is very essential that we all obey guidelines and regulations issued by State Government to contain the spread of COVID-19. Violation of the same would lead to strong action."

As part of containment measures, the Ganjam district administration has also prohibited the movement of people from rural areas to towns.

The district has reported 2,066 COVID-19 cases so far, and it also tops the list of fatalities with 20 people succumbing to the disease. Odisha's coronavirus death toll stands at 34.

According to an official notification, two IAS officers -- Parul Patawari and Vishal Singh -- have been appointed as special ADMs (in-charge) for COVID-19 management in Chhatrapur and Bhanjanagar sub-divisions in the district.

(With inputs from ANI and IANS)