A young Indian bride fell ill and collapsed during her wedding ceremony prompting the families to solemnise the marriage between the groom and a sister of the dead bride.

The incident took place two days ago in Samaspur in Bharthana in Etawah district.

After exchanging garlands and other ceremonies, the couple was preparing for the final ceremony of 'pheras' when Surabhi suddenly fell unconscious beside Manjesh Kumar, the groom. A doctor was called in who declared her dead, saying she suffered a major cardiac arrest.

The wedding festivities turned into mourning. Surabhi's brother Saurabh said: "We did not know what to do in the situation. Both the families sat together and someone suggested that my younger sister Nisha should be married to the groom. The families discussed the matter and both agreed."

Surabhi's body was kept in another room and the marriage of Manjesh was solemnised with Nisha. After the wedding, when the 'baraat' left, Surabhi's last rites were held," he said.

Surabhi's uncle Ajab Singh, said, "It was a tough call for our family. One daughter lay dead in one room and the wedding of another daughter was being solemnised in the other room. We have never witnessed such mixed emotions. The grief over her death and the happiness of the wedding has yet to sink in," he said.

Indo-Asian News Service