While reports of accidents and blasts involving LPG cylinders are something one hears of frequently, did you know that as a consumer you can claim insurance for the damages caused by these cylinder blasts?
According to the LPG Insurance Policy, consumers are protected and insured for accidental death and injuries cause by a gas cylinder blast. According to public liability policy (Policy No 021700/46/14/37/00000041), consumers of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and more can claim money from these corporations for the damage caused.
LPG companies and distributors take Third Party Liability Insurance with no premium collected from the consumer. In case of an accident, the consumer can claim insurance from the distributor and also from the gas agency. Under this policy, personal accident cover, medical expenses and property damage are covered. Indane, Bharat and HP Gas are insured by United Insurance Private Ltd.
Here’s a step by step of what to do in case of accident:
1 – Consumers must immediately inform their distributor in writing about the accident. The distributor will continue to inform the gas company and insurance company of the same.
2 – Consumer must provide originals of death certificate/post mortem report or medical bills and doctors prescriptions supporting their claim.
3 – In case of damage of property, the insurance company will send over a surveyor to assess the loss.
4 – Claims will then be settled based on the merits of the case.
According to the Indane website:
Personal Accident cover to third parties and LPG customers and property damage at authorized customers’ registered premises:
(a) Personal Accident : Rs.6,00,000 per person per event in case of death
(b) Medical expenses : Max Rs.2,00,000 per person (Limited to Rs 30,00,000/- per event)
(c ) Property damage : Max. Rs. 2,00,000/- per event at authorized customers’ registered premises.
(d) Per year in aggregate: Rs. 10 Crore
And according to Bharat Petroleum website:
The monetary value of coverage under the no fault liability policy is as under:
(a) Personal accident cover of Rs.5,00,000/- per person per event in case of death
(b) Covers medical expenses of Rs.15 lakhs per event, maximum Rs.1,00,000/- per person. Immediate relief upto Rs. 25,000/- per person.
(c) Property damage maximum Rs.1,00,000/- per event at authorised customer’s registered premises.
(d) It also covers customers who are supplied through reticulated system of LPG (Piped LPG).
Due to lack of awareness, not many insurance claims happen in case of accidents. The gas agencies are supposed to display information about the same on their notice boards and inform their consumers about the insurance cover, but they neglect to do it.
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