Indian citizens travelling via train and booking their tickets through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), have the option of choosing travel insurance. The optional travel insurance for rail passengers is available for the duration of the trip, which includes compensation for any mishap that occurs between the originating and arrival stations of the train as mentioned in the ticket booked. The passengers must have boarded the train to get compensation under the travel insurance plan. Read on to know how and when the travel insurance can be chosen.
How to Get IRCTC Travel Insurance?
IRCTC travel insurance can be selected while booking your tickets via the official portal. The option is available to all the passengers whose tickets are booked under a single PNR ( Passenger Name Record Number). While filling your personal and other details of your journey, the site shows a box mentioning travel insurance. You can simply tick this box if you wish to buy travel insurance available for rail passengers.
However, if you fail to tick this box when booking your ticket, the option of train travel insurance is no longer available. Also, this option is available only for confirmed tickets and tickets that are waitlisted and have part confirmation or confirmation against cancellation status. The policy number can be checked from the ticket booking history on the IRCTC website.
IRCTC only provides passengers the option to choose travel insurance, but the actual coverage is offered by one of the several insurance providers with whom the Indian railways have tied up. This means that passengers who have opted for travel insurance while booking their train travel tickets are redirected to the insurance provided through SMS or email. Once you’re on the insurer’s website, you will need to fill in the essential details, like the name of the nominee for receiving the claims amount. Also, all correspondence about claims and settlements should be made directly with the insurance provider. In case a passenger fails to fill in the nominee details, the claims will be settled with the legal heir.
What is the Cost and Coverage of Train Travel Insurance?
The cost of the train travel insurance is 35 paise per passenger and the same has to be paid when booking the online ticket. Travel insurance plans for rail passengers provide coverage for the following:
Death: Up to ₹10 lakhs in case of fatal injuries that result in death within 12 months of the incident.
Permanent Total Disability: Cover of ₹10 lakh for injuries sustained during the train journey, even if the permanent total disability results within 12 months of the accident.
Permanent Partial Disability: Cover of ₹7.5 lakhs for injuries sustained during the train journey, even if the partial total disability results within 12 months of the accident.
Hospitalisation Expenses: Cover of up to ₹2 lakhs for medical expenses incurred due to injuries sustained during the train journey.
Some insurance providers also cover the expenses for the transportation of the mortal remains of a passenger in case of the occurrence of death.
When buying IRCTC travel insurance, it’s important to check the exclusions, as the full insured amount is provided only on specified conditions listed in the policy.
