The administration of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple has taken insurance cover worth Rs. 10 crore for about 500 devotees who will be part of the multitude that will throng the temple during the Karthigai Deepam festival. Another policy for Rs. 5 crore has been taken for devotees participating in the car festival.
The Tiruchi branch of the National Insurance Company has sealed the deal to provide cover against accidents that may occur in temple premises, lands owned by the temple and at the hill where the Mahadeepam would be lit.
Those attending the temple and hill during the event will get an insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh each for accidental death and Rs. 1 lakh for accident-related medical expenses. The temple administration has paid Rs. 95,762 towards premium for this policy that would cover accidents that may occur in specified places all through the Karthigai Deepam festival and related rituals from November 30 to December 16.
The temple administration has also taken policies for the car festival that falls on the seventh day of the 10-day Karthigai Deepam festival. Five decorated cars would be taken around the Mada Streets during the festival. Each of these five cars is insured through separate policy that assures Rs. 1 lakh against accidental death and Rs. 1 lakh for accident-related medical expenses for 50 devotees. This cover would be in force five days days before, during and after the car festival. Apart from devotees, it also covers workers who are engaged in assembling and disassembling the cars. As much as Rs. 1,15,585 has been paid towards premium for these five policies.
Since the Mada Streets on which car festival takes place are not owned by the temple administration, the first policy would not cover the car festival, necessitating another policy.
The temple administration said that taking accident insurance for devotees before the Karthigai Deepam festival was a usual practice. Victims of accidents that occurred during the festival in the past have claimed the insurance amount, they added.
