The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has insured the Shreemandir, Gundicha Temple, Badadanda (Grand Road) and the lanes connecting these areas in order to provide compensation to the next of kin of the devotees who would die during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri.
This year's Car Festival on June 29 and subsequent nine days, including the deities' stay in the Shree Gundicha Temple, Bhuda Yatra, Sunavesha and Aadhar Pana ritual days, have been covered under the insurance plan, SJTA sources said, informing that the kin of each deceased devotee will get `1 lakh from the insurance company. Besides, if a devotee dies in the premises of the Shree Jagannath Temple, his/her family would be provided with the same amount of compensation, the source said.
According to the New India Assurance, which has extended such facilities for the devotees as per its agreement with the SJTA, the term of insurance for the Shree Jagannath Temple premises is for one year from July 22, 2014 to July 21, 2105 while the term of insurance for the Badadanda area from the Shree Jagannath Temple to the Shree Gundicha Temple and within 50 feet of the lanes connecting the Badadanda will remain in force from June 29, 2014 to July 11, 2014. Similarly, the term of insurance for the Shree Gundicha Temple premises will remain in force from June 29, 2014 to July 7, 2014, the sources added.
The SJTA has already paid the premiums for the purpose. Meanwhile, the religious institutions have demanded to insure the other areas like pilgrim shelters, temporary bus stands and parking lots.