In a bid to help out the bereaved families of the Mumbai blasts, the Life Insurance Corporation of India has relaxed its policy terms to expedite the compensation for victims.

LIC [Get Quote] chairman T S Vijayan has said that it would give topmost priority in settling the claims arising out of the bomb blasts in Mumbai.

Normally in death claims, only an extract from the Register of Births and Deaths is accepted as proof of death. "We also carry out an investigation to verify the death of the person. By easing the norms we have cut short the time of disbursement of claims," says Yogesh Sharma, marketing manager, LIC.

In the case of blast vicitms, the following will also be accepted as proof:

1. Panchnama, police inquest report or post-mortem report.
2. Ex-gratia payment on account of such death made by government central/state of any municipal authority.
3. For policies of sum assured up to Rs 40,000, widow's statement duly endorsed by any person specified to attest LIC's Death Claim Discharge Form along with a suitable indemnity for waiver of standard proof of death.

Double Accident and Disability Benefit

If the cause a death is proved to be due to the bomb blast and/or consequential accident, the accident benefit/disability benefit wherever payable will be released without insisting on a police report.

LIC has also constituted special help desk at the divisional and branch offices to respond to the death claim inquiries and assist in expeditious settlement of claims.

"A help desk has been set up at the Churchgate station, where people can approach the LIC officials," says Sharma.

The LIC helpline numbers are:

• 9892590175
• 9869089079
• 9819059797
• 9870148947
• 9967221699