Shortage of bus seats and rooms strand 203 newlyweds

The mass honeymoon to Ooty for 203 couples ended yesterday even before it began.

Shortage of bus seats and rooms turned out to be the culprit.u00a0

MLA Zameer Ahmad Khan had conducted a mass marriage for the couples free of cost last month, and had gifted them the five-day honeymoon at luxury hotels, also free of cost.u00a0u00a0

The couples were to visit places such as Mysore andu00a0 Kodaikanal besides Ooty.

However, rooms and buses were not available to accommodate all couples for the same days, and the honeymoon was called off.

"We were told our honeymoon would start yesterday but it has not," said a newly wed bridegroom. "This has disappointed us."

The MLA however said that the trip was not cancelled, but postponed.u00a0

"It was difficult to make an arrangement for such huge number. So it got postponed," said Zameer.

The couples may have to wait a week now.

"Everything has been arranged now. The first batch will leave on February 10. Fourteen buses have been arranged and luxury hotels have been booked," the minister said.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0