Aero India fire: Sixty vehicles unrecognisable

BENGALURU: Car insurance companies, which are assessing the damage of the vehicles burnt during the recent fire mishap at the parking lot of the recent Aero Show in Bengaluru, are facing a challenge: Establishing the identity of 60 vehicles.

“Of the total 277 vehicles, 60 have been damaged beyond recognition; their engine and chassis numbers have been completely wiped out,’’ said home minister MB Patil on Tuesday, after handing over the insurance claim cheques to 11 vehicle owners at Vidhana Soudha.

He said he’ll hold a meeting with representatives of all insurance companies to discuss how to go about with such insurance claimants and see what best can be done.

Quoting the fire department assessment report, he said 277 four-wheelers were gutted in the mishap and of these, 251 have been declared ‘total loss’ and 26 as ‘partial loss’. Initial reports suggested that over 300 cars were gutted.

The minister said the government will extend cooperation for early settlement of the claims and also plans to compensate those who have no insurance cover. “Under the chief minister’s relief fund, we’ll compensate cab drivers whose vehicles were damaged,’’ he added.

Of the 11 vehicle owners who received the cheques included Ramakant Mahapatra from Odisha, who lost his brand new Mahindra XUV 500. He was handed over Rs 15.95 lakh. Subodeep from Kolkata, owner of three-month-old Maruti swift car was handed over the fully insured sum of Rs 7.95 lakh.