THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Alappuzha Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed an insurer to reimburse Rs 1.4 lakh incurred in repairing a generator of a houseboat which was dropped into the backwaters due to a fire outbreak. As per the complaint filed by Canoe World Hospitality, Alappuzha, smoke billowed out of their houseboat ‘Canon World One’ on September 8, 2016.
Since the firefighting extinguishers yielded no result, they pushed the burning generator into the water to save the boat. They informed Nedumudy Police and the fire and rescue force about this. The generator, insured with national insurance for an amount of Rs 30 lakh, was retrieved and taken for repair and a claim of Rs 1.4 lakh made. The insurer did not reimburse the claim out of suspicion and the houseboat company moved the forum.
The company argued in the forum that they doubted the authenticity of the claim as there were no eyewitnesses to the incident barring the staff on the boat. Also, the surveyor noticed no traces of fire on the rear side of the vessel. The generator was worn out and was worth only Rs 75,000. The owner was trying to obtain insurance amount. The forum verified evidence including reports of Nedumudi sub-inspector and firefighters and ordered the relief.
