A wedding ceremony in Uttarakhand’s Khatima town took a tragic turn when the bride’s father reportedly died of a heart attack following a heated dispute over dowry demands and the mehr amount during the nikah ceremony.

The incident occurred at a marriage hall in Islamnagar, where the wedding procession had arrived from Bareilly in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

Dispute erupted during nikah

According to police, tensions arose between the two families during the solemnisation of the marriage. Members of the bride’s family alleged that the groom’s side had repeatedly increased dowry demands after the marriage was fixed.

They claimed the demands escalated from a scooter to a motorcycle and eventually ₹1 lakh in cash.

Another disagreement reportedly emerged over the mehr amount. While the bride’s family wanted the sum fixed at ₹5 lakh, the groom’s side was willing to agree only to ₹21,000.

Father dies after health deteriorates

Despite attempts by relatives and community members to resolve the issue, the dispute continued. During the altercation, the bride’s father, Sadiq, reportedly suffered a sudden health emergency.

Family members rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Relatives alleged that the mental stress caused by the dispute triggered the fatal cardiac arrest.

Tensions escalate after death

News of Sadiq’s death sparked outrage among relatives and local residents. The angry crowd allegedly detained the groom, his relatives and several members of the wedding party inside the marriage hall.

Police said some guests were assaulted, while others attempted to flee through the roof of a nearby building. During the chaos, a section of the roof reportedly collapsed, leaving a few people injured.

Police launch investigation

A heavy police presence was deployed to restore order and prevent further unrest. Authorities have begun recording statements from both families and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police said further action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.