The finance ministry on Saturday directed public sector insurance companies, including Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), to expedite the disbursement of claim amounts to victims and their families affected by the recent landslides in Wayanad and other districts of Kerala.
In response to this urgent situation, insurance companies have begun reaching out to their policyholders through multiple channels such as local newspapers, social media, company websites, and SMS. This effort aims to provide policyholders with the necessary contact information for assistance in the affected districts of Wayanad, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Thrissur, where a large number of claims have been reported, according to a post by the finance ministry on X (formerly Twitter).
The ministry highlighted that, given the severe landslide and heavy rainfall in Kerala, the government has instructed Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs) — including LIC, National Insurance Corporation, New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, and United India Insurance — to offer all possible support to the disaster victims. The goal is to ensure that insurance claims are processed and paid as swiftly as possible.
Specifically, LIC has been directed to expedite the disbursement of claims related to the PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. To facilitate quicker claim settlements, the documentation requirements for processing these claims have been significantly relaxed, making it easier for the victims to receive their rightful claims.
The General Insurance Council will collaborate with insurance companies to oversee the prompt processing and payment of victim claims. A portal will be established for insurers to report claim statuses on a daily basis.
On July 30, Kerala's Wayanad district was hit by three landslides within a mere four-hour window, leading to extensive devastation in the villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha. The severe weather and landslides resulted in several individuals being swept away by the Chaliyar River.