The Jagannath temple administration of Puri has tied up with the New India Assurance Company limited, Puri branch to insure the lives of the devotees thronging the holy town during the Rath Yatra which will be celebrated from July 21-29.
The insurance cover starts from the day of Nabajauban darshan (the day of the recovery of deities from illness) on June 19 to Niladri Vijaya (return of the deities to the temple) on July 02. The area of the insurance is limited to the 3 km stretch of Badadanda (grand road) between Singha Dwar (Lion’s Gate) to Gundicha temple and by-lanes upto 50 feet. Lakhs of devotees, like the previous years, are expected to throng Puri to witness the chariots of three deities- Lord Jagannath , Lord Subhadra and goddess Subhadra, rolling on the Grand Road (Badadanda). The temple administration has paid Rs 40,450 as premium amount to the company for the stampede death up to a limit of 25 persons, said an official of the temple administration. The official added, Rs 1 lakh will be paid to next to the kin of the deceased in case of death due to stampede. The temple administration has also insured the devotees visiting the shrine to have glimpse of the deities. The cover for the stampede death inside the temple is Rs 1 lakh valid for one year. The temple administration has paid Rs 75,282 towards annual premium. The period of insurance will be enforced from July 23, 2012 to July 22, 2013.
