Bride shot during wedding ceremony

A wedding celebration in Buxar district descended into chaos on Tuesday night when an 18-year-old bride was shot at close range while on stage, allegedly by a former partner, according to local media reports.

The victim, Aarti Kumari, was participating in the traditional jaimala ritual — the exchange of garlands — at a venue in Chausa Nagar Panchayat when the attacker opened fire.

Reports said the wedding procession had arrived from Ballia in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, and festivities were underway when the shooting occurred at around 11pm. As a relative carried out a ceremony on stage, the suspect allegedly fired a single bullet into the bride’s abdomen.

Hospital officials confirmed that the gunshot struck a critical area, leaving her in a life-threatening condition.

She was first taken to the local Sadar Hospital for emergency care. Due to the seriousness of her injuries, doctors administered initial treatment before referring her to the Trauma Centre in Varanasi.

Medical staff there have described her condition as critical, and she remains under intensive care.

Investigators and local residents believe the attack was linked to a previous relationship between the bride and the suspect. Preliminary findings suggest the accused was angered by her marriage to another man and carried out the shooting in an apparent act of retaliation.

Buxar Superintendent of Police Shubham Arya is overseeing the investigation. While the main suspect has yet to be apprehended, authorities have detained his parents for questioning in an effort to determine his whereabouts.

Police say efforts are ongoing to secure an arrest as the probe continues.