Sometimes even a small act of wisdom can yield a profound impact. It often happens that while booking a train or a flight ticket we ignore the insurance checkbox. But one man’s wisdom while booking a rail ticket provided the much needed support to his family after his death.This event dates back to 2020 when on October 19, Ravi Kumar,Sharma, a resident of Morena, Madhya Pradesh had booked an online ticket from Morena to Nizamuddin in the Bhopal Express. As per a report published in Bhaskar English, Ravi had booked his ticket for Delhi and was allotted a seat in the D-1 coach. Along with the ticket, he had also opted for travel insurance worth 45 paise.On the night of October 21, 2020, at around 3:30 am, he reached Morena railway station. It was raining heavily, and suddenly there was a power outage. Reports say that the display board showing the coach numbers on the platform had also stopped working, making it difficult to understand where the coach would halt.As per media reports, when the train arrived, the gate of the D-1 coach was closed. He called out to the passengers inside to open the door, but before it could be opened, the train started moving. While trying to step onto the footboard, his foot slipped and he fell onto the platform. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
After the incident, Ravi Kumar Sharma’s wife, Manisha, went with the claim to IRCTC for the travel insurance claim. As per media reports, the family filed an insurance claim in August 2021. They submitted all the required documents including the ticket, the nominee documents and the booking details. But there seemed to be no response from the insurance company. The case kept on getting delayed over documentation issues. Eventually, the family approached the Bhopal Consumer Commission.Nearly six years later, the decision came in favour of the family. According to Dainik Bhaskar, the Consumer Commission ordered the insurance company to pay ₹10 lakh, along with 7 percent annual interest calculated from the date of the written complaint. In addition, it directed the company to pay ₹10,000 for financial loss and physical and mental distress, and ₹5,000 towards legal expenses. The order also stated that if the payment is not made within the stipulated time, an interest rate of 9 percent will apply.The Bhopal Consumer Forum considered the incident an accident that occurred during the course of travel and ruled that the insurance claim was valid. Ravi Kumar Sharma had all the required documents, including a valid railway ticket and travel insurance. It was also clarified that IRCTC’s role is limited to ticket booking, while the insurance company is responsible for settling claims. The Forum directed that the insurance claim be paid within 15 days.
How insurance works while booking a train ticketPassengers booking train tickets have the option to opt for travel insurance. While booking a ticket through IRCTC’s website or mobile app one has to enter details such as train number, journey date, and travel information. At the payment stage, an option for travel insurance appears on the screen, which the passenger must select. A very small fee of 45 paise is charged while booking the ticket. One is also required to provide nominee details, including age and relationship. Once the ticket is confirmed, the insurance policy becomes active, and the information is shared with the insurance company.If any incident occurs during the journey, a claim can be filed within four months. The injured person, nominee, or legal heir can submit the claim by providing a written application to the insurance company along with all necessary documents. According to the IRCTC website, the insurance policies are contractual obligations between the Insurance company/is & the passenger. According to the ITCTC website, the Indian Railways travel insurance premium for tickets booked online via IRCTC is only 45 paise (₹0.45) per passenger. This is inclusive of all taxes. This optional insurance offers coverage up to ₹10 lakh for death or permanent total disability, along with coverage for hospitalization, partial disability, and transportation of mortal remains. Key Details of 2026 Train Insurance:Cost: ₹0.45 (45 paise) per passenger per journey.Coverage Amount:
- Death/Permanent Total Disability: Up to ₹10 lakh.
- Permanent Partial Disability: Up to ₹7.5 lakh.
- Hospitalization Expenses: Up to ₹2 lakh for injuries.
- Mortal Remains Transportation: ₹10,000
