Processing insurance payment for train disaster victims: IRCTC

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) on Thursday said it is processing insurance payment to families of five people who died in the Patna-Indore Express derailment.

"The claim for the five cases has been provisionally approved by all the insurance companies and they are in touch with the families to complete the claim settlement formalities," IRCTC said in a statement.

"Only one passenger had filled up the nominee details for the insurance; for the remaining four the claim settlement will be made with the legal heir as soon as the documents are provided," IRCTC said.

"The families have requested time for providing the documents."

At least 149 passengers died and 179 were injured after 14 coaches of the Patna-Indore derailed near Pukhrayan station, 60 km from Kanpur, on Sunday.

"For the seven injury cases, insurance companies are getting in touch with the passengers and their families," the statement added.

The travel insurance scheme for rail journeys at the time of booking was announced in the Railway Budget speech this year and was implemented from September 1, 2016.

--IANS

aks/rv/mr