Bengaluru Couple Joins Hubballi Wedding Reception Online After IndiGo Cancels Flight

A Bengaluru-based software engineer couple, Medha Kshirsagar from Hubballi and Sangama Das from Bhubaneswar, had to attend their own wedding reception through a video call after widespread IndiGo flight cancellations disrupted their travel plans.

The couple married in Bhubaneswar on November 23 and scheduled a formal reception on December 3 at Gujarat Bhavan, Hubballi, to celebrate with relatives and friends in the bride's hometown. Invitations had been sent out and arrangements were completed well in advance for the event.

Their travel plan involved flying from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru and then onward to Hubballi on December 2. However, a series of delays beginning Tuesday morning continued into early Wednesday. On December 3-the day of the reception-the flights were finally cancelled.

Several relatives travelling on the Bhubaneswar-Mumbai-Hubballi route were similarly affected, facing multiple delays and cancellations. With guests stranded across cities and uncertainty growing, the family struggled to keep the event on schedule.

With the venue ready and hundreds of guests already gathered, the bride's parents decided not to call off the celebration. Instead, they conducted the planned rituals on behalf of the couple, while Medha and Sangama joined live from Bhubaneswar via video call, dressed in their wedding outfits.

A large screen was placed at the venue so guests could see and interact with the couple in real time. The gesture allowed the reception to proceed despite the travel chaos.

The bride's mother told NDTV, "We felt very bad as we had invited so many relatives, and cancelling at the last minute was impossible. After discussing it as a family, we decided to have the couple attend online and broadcast their participation to everyone present."

Guests appreciated the quick thinking, saying the event remained personal and meaningful even though it unfolded in an unexpected format.

IndiGo Cancellations Affect Thousands

The couple's ordeal came amid a nationwide disruption caused by IndiGo cancelling hundreds of flights due to a combination of pilot shortages and adjustments to Phase 2 of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules.

On Thursday alone, the airline cancelled over 500 flights, the highest in its 20-year history. Major airports-including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur and Bhopal-were hit, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

IndiGo has informed the DGCA that operations are expected to stabilise by February 10, 2026, but warned that more cancellations are likely until December 8, along with a temporary reduction in services.

Despite the travel setbacks, the Hubballi reception turned out to be a memorable affair. The family's decision ensured the celebration continued, with the couple's virtual presence bringing both relief and an unexpected touch to the evening.