The past few months have seen a non-stop stream of rail disasters, with the derailing of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express being the latest in these high-profile mishaps. Thankfully, there was no loss of life in this accident, but families of 23 passengers on the Haridwar-Kalinga Express that derailed mid-August are still ruing the death of their loved ones.
While none can truly know what life has in store for us, it is only prudent in this day and age to hope for the best, while preparing for the worst. Opting for IRCTC travel insurance is one such practical step that everyone must take.
So Indian Railways is into the insurance business now?
Well, no, not really. IRCTC is simply an intermediary between passengers opting for insurance and the insurance company. The insurance provider is set by the website and passengers are not allowed to choose any provider. Any claims made by the passenger will be directly dealt with by the provider and IRCTC has no responsibility or liability in the matter.
What coverage do I receive?
In the event of a train accident or other untoward incidents like robbery, rioting, arson, shoot-outs or terrorist attacks, the traveller or their nominee will receive*:
- ₹ 10 lakh, in the event of death or permanent disability
- ₹ 7.5 lakh, in the event of partial permanent disability
- ₹ 2 lakh, in the event of hospitalisation
- ₹ 10,000 against transportation of mortal remains, in the event of death
*Note that this coverage is only for train accidents, and problems like loss of baggage are not covered here.
How do I sign up and what cost do I incur?
At the time of ticket booking, you will see that the opting for "IRCTC Passenger Travel Insurance Scheme" is checked by default. However, the selection is voluntary and you can choose to uncheck, if you are not interested.
In order to encourage travellers to insure themselves, the scheme has been introduced with a premium of just 92 paise per passenger, inclusive of all taxes. The coverage will apply for all passengers under one PNR (Children below 5 years of age and foreign citizens are not covered).
IRCTC notes that once the premium is paid, there will be no refund of the premium on cancellation, even if the ticket was waitlisted.
Where should I provide details of the nominee?
Once you pay the premium, the respective insurance company will issue the policy. You then have two options:
- The insurance company will send information either via email or SMS regarding the policy and a link to fill your nominee details, OR
- Simply go to the Booked Ticket History on IRCTC. Here too, you will find the link to fill your nominee details.
You should know that in the absence of a nominee, the claim will only be paid out to legal heirs.
How does the claims process work?
The insured or the nominee must make a claim with the respective insurance company within 4 months of the event. The following is a list of important documents required to submit your claim (There will be additions or changes depending on the specific insurance company's requirements):
- The Railway Authority's report that confirms the train accident or incident you are filing a claim against.
- The claim form provided by the insurer, filled and signed by the Insured or the Nominee (in case of a nominee, a photo identity proof is required). Don't forget to provide the relevant bank details.
- In case of death, a report from the Railway Authority that contains the details of passengers declared dead.
- Report of attending doctor confirming the extent of disability or disability certificate, original bills, prescriptions or reports of tests conducted at the hospital.
- Cash receipts for medicines purchased for treatment.
So, the next time you are online booking a ticket, make sure you take this one small step for the security of yourself and your loved ones!
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