Vijayawada: Every LPG blast victim can claim insurance

Vijayawada: While lack of awareness on safe usage of LPG cylinders is causing deadly gas explosions in households in the city, lack of awareness on the insurance cover available for the consumers is making them ignorant towards it or lose eligibility to get it in case of accidents.

As per the Public Liability Insurance Policies for Accidents involving LPG by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, an event of gas or cylinder explosion gets maximum of Rs 50 lakh insurance liability.

However, one could not claim the entire amount as it depends on the amount of destruction caused by the explosion.

Each person can claim Rs 1,00,000 for treatment, Rs 5,00,000 for death and Rs 25,000 for damages after an explosion in the residence or a commercial area.

The PSU Oil Marketing Companies (Indian Oil, HPCL and the BPC) distributors act as principals and are responsible for taking insurance policy for accidents, including third party insurance cover to persons and properties.

However, the policies taken by the distributors are not in the name of any any individual. A series of gas explosion incidents triggered panic among the LPG users in the city.

Reddy Ranga Rao, 55, died due to gas leakage and explosion in his house in the city recently.

Earlier, a woman was injured and several incidents were reported, but none claimed the insurance owing to lack of awareness. Also, not maintaining standards set by the gas company would disqualify the consumers from claiming the insurance.

In case of an LPG accident, the victim has to immediately inform the distributor in the city.