There are instances of an entire family perishing or one of the spouses dying in the horrific June 12 crash of the London-bound plane, which claimed the lives of 241 persons on board and 29 on the ground
Ahmedabad: Insurance companies are facing challenges in settling claims of the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash victims last week as in many cases the policyholders and nominees both have died in the tragedy. There are instances of an entire family perishing or one of the spouses dying in the horrific horrific June 12 crash of the London-bound plane, which claimed the lives of 241 persons on board and 29 on the ground.
Insurance companies are facing challenges in settling claims of the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash victims last week as in many cases the policyholders and nominees both have died in the tragedy.
There are instances of an entire family perishing or one of the spouses dying in the horrific June 12 crash of the London-bound plane, which claimed the lives of 241 persons on board and 29 on the ground.
Immediately after the accident, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRADI) asked insurance companies to verify details of the deceased with their database on issuance of the overseas medical insurance, personal accident and life insurance policies.
The advisory also stated no claim was to be denied or delayed due to procedural formalities in the case of confirmed deceased individuals from the passengers’ list and persons at buildings affected by the crash.
Accordingly, major insurers like the Life Insurance Corporation of India, New India Assurance, HDFC Life, Iffco Tokio General Insurance, Bajaj Allianz GIC and Tata AIG Insurance have set up their help desks at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital to expedite the process.
The insurers said they are matching the data shared by authorities with their database and are proactively reaching out to the families.
LIC administrative officer Ashish Shukla told PTI that the company has so far received 10 claims at the hospital and its offices.
There is one case where the insured individual nominated the spouse and both died in the accident, said the officer from the country’s largest insurance company.
Meanwhile, at least 208 victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad have been so far identified through DNA testing and 170 bodies handed over to the families, an official said on Wednesday.
Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition.
“Till Wednesday evening, 208 DNA samples have been matched, and 170 bodies have been handed over to the respective families,” Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi told reporters.
The victims whose bodies were handed over included four Portuguese nationals, 30 British nationals and one Canadian.
Following the crash, 71 injured persons were admitted to the civil hospital, Dr Joshi said.
“Of these 71, only seven are currently undergoing treatment here, while 12 other patients are admitted to private hospitals in Ahmedabad and Dahod. Three patients lost their lives during treatment,” said Dr Joshi. The remaining patients were discharged after treatment.
The state government had earlier stated that samples of 250 victims — persons on board the ill-fated flight as well as those killed on the ground — were collected for identification.
The process of DNA matching of other victims is going on, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority under the aegis of the National Legal Services Authority has launched an immediate legal and psychological aid initiative following the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash, a release said on Tuesday.
The Gujarat authority launched an emergency response mechanism called “Planecrash legal support helpdesk” under the guidance of NALSA’s Patron-in-Chief, Chief Justice B R Gavai, and its Executive Chairperson Justice Surya Kant.
“This support system has been instituted to ensure accessible, immediate, and comprehensive assistance to the victims and their families. A fully functional 24×7 help desk has been set up, providing continuous legal assistance and walk-in support, and is being manned by trained legal aid lawyers who are offering guidance on essential legal matters, including assistance with documentation, identity verification, and claims,” the release added.
The aid is aimed at strengthening on-ground support and qualified advocates have been deployed to offer direct legal counselling to the aggrieved families.
“These advocates are providing real-time legal advice and helping individuals navigate the procedural aspects of loss and recovery. Recognising the emotional and psychological trauma resulting from the tragedy, dedicated trauma and grievance redressal support has also been made available,” the release said.
Psychological counselling was being provided through the victimology centre “Sangathi” for victims and their families, it added.
“All services under this initiative are being provided free of cost, in keeping with NALSA’s mission to ensure justice and support to every individual in need. For further assistance, affected victims/ families may also contact the NALSA Helpline: 15100, a toll-free number available nationwide or reach out to the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority at 6357981044 or 07922850999,” the release said.
“In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, which has resulted in an immense loss of lives and brought untold suffering to the victims and their families, the NALSA expresses its deepest condolences and solidarity with all those affected. In this hour of grief, the legal services institutions of the country reaffirm their commitment to serving the people in times of crisis,” the release said.