Indian groom, bride get stuck in elevator, miss their own reception

An Indian groom and his bride from North Carolina, US had the most harrowing experience just before their own wedding reception.

The beautiful couple, Panav Jha and his wife Victoria, had to miss their own wedding reception after they were trapped in an elevator of the hotel they had booked. 

The couple was stuck for two hours while they were heading up to their reception party, which was on the 16th floor of the hotel. Four other guests were also stuck in the elevator along with the bride and the groom including Victoria’s sister.

They alerted the hotel rescue team who tried to rescue them, but in vain. Firefighters had to be called to the scene to finally rescue the couple and the guests. 

Finally, the firefighters had to opt for a ‘rope rescue’ as the situation was different from usual elevator rescue calls.

Later, the firefighters opened the top of the elevator and then pulled the bride and the groom up to the fourth floor one by one. The rescue operation was shared on the Facebook page of ‘The Charlotte Fire Department.

The caption read: “WEDDING NIGHT RESCUE: First, congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jha on your wedding day. Although Charlotte Fire wasn’t formally invited, we weren’t exactly wedding crashers either. Early this morning, our crews responded to an elevator entrapment.”

“When Charlotte Fire crews arrived, 6 people were trapped in a hotel elevator between the first and second floor. Firefighters rigged equipment to hoist those trapped up out of the elevator to the best access point on the fourth floor. After the first person was recused, she said, "please get my sister out next, she's the one in the wedding dress." All 6 who were pulled to safety were part of the Jha wedding party. Thankfully, no one required medical attention. Mr. and Mrs. Jha, we hope today is the start of a long and happy life together.”

“Well done to our responding crews, Ladder 1, 4, Engine 1, 2, 4, 11, 42, Rescue 11 and Safety 1.”