Sabarimala insured for Rs 30 crore!

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has insured the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine for Rs 30 crore, and also introduced a free-of-cost accident insurance project for pilgrims visting the temple.

The scheme, launched in a tie-up up with United India Insurance Company, was inaugurated by TDB president G Raman Nair last evening.

The temple, with gold-coated roof, has been insured against all sorts of possible damage including fire and earthquake, a TDB official said.

Jewels and other costly articles of the temple have been separately insured for Rs 5 crore, and the administrative buildings adjoining the temple have been covered for Rs 1 crore.

The pilgrims' insurance scheme offers up to Rs 1 lakh to devotees suffering injuries or death at a stretch of about 18 km from Nilakkal to the uphill Sannidhanam where the temple is located.

The compensation for TDB and government employees on duty in the area would be up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

The devotees visiting the shrine for an year from November 17 have been covered by the scheme for which the TDB has paid Rs 14.75 lakh as premium.

An estimated three crore pilgrims had visited the temple last year during the main season between November and Janauary.