File picture of mangled vehicles in front of the CJM court

Guwahati, Nov. 4: The mangled, soot-blackened remains of private vehicles and motorbikes at the three blast sites in the city are not just grim reminders of Thursday’s serial explosions.

Hidden in the twisted metal and pieces of junk are serious worries of people who lost their vehicles, most of which are beyond repair.

Lawyer Kamal Barman was lucky enough to have escaped with his life when the powerful blast ripped through the parking place at the CJM Court precincts.

After the great escape, the biggest worry gnawing at him now is how to make up for the huge financial losses he has incurred because of the blast with his Maruti WagonR damaged beyond repair. Also in the vehicle was the Rs 2.56 lakh that one of his clients had given him for property registration.

“My wife, who is also an advocate, and I had used up our hard-earned money to buy the car in 2005. We had also taken a car loan against our fixed deposit in the bank. I have not only lost my car but also my client’s cash and few important files and documents, which were in the vehicle,” Barman said.

He is still clueless on how to return the money to his client. And more importantly, how long the insurance company will take to pay him and how much.

“My car was insured with Bajaj Allianz and the policy also covers losses because of terrorist activities, including bomb blasts. However, I am not sure how much money I will get and when.” Barman said he was yet to file a claim with the insurance company as the wreckage of his car is still at the blast site.

“I went to Panbazar police station and they told me that they would need some time to compile all the details about vehicles damaged in the blast and prepare a police report, a copy of which I will have to attach with my insurance claim,” he said.

Altogether 53 two-wheelers and 24 small cars were reduced to heaps of twisted metal at the blast site adjoining the CJM court.

Similarly, the blast at Panbazar wrecked seven small cars, including a Tata Sumo, a Hyundai Getz, a WagonR and Tata Indica, besides a motorcycle. In Ganeshguri, at least 40 vehicles, including a city bus, 12 autorickshaws, 15 two-wheelers, a Tata Indigo, a Maruti Van, two Maruti 800 cars, among others, were burnt in the blast.

“My Maruti 800 car has been damaged beyond repair in the blast. I have spoken to my insurance agent who told me that terrorist violence is covered under the comprehensive auto insurance policy of National Insurance Company, which I had opted for,” said Kapil Chutiya, a member of microfinance NGO called Global Welfare Society.

“Soon after the blast, I filed an FIR with Dispur police station informing them about the damage to my car. Now I am in touch with the police to get the final investigation report, which I will have to furnish to the insurance company along with my claim,” he said.

The police have started shifting the wreckage from the blast sites to the police stations.

Insurance companies said those who had taken out a “package or comprehensive” policies for their vehicles could make claims.

The chief regional manager of Oriental Insurance Company, P.C. Hota said loss or damage caused to the insured vehicle because of terrorist violence like a bomb blast is covered by the company’s first party auto insurance policy.

“Vehicle-owners cannot claim damages if he has a third party insurance,” Hota said. The first-party insurance is also known as comprehensive or package policy.

“I have insured my car against terrorist violence but even if I get insurance money I will lose over Rs. 50,000,” said chartered accountant Arun Agarwala who lost his Maruti WagonR, which he bought less than a year ago, in the Panbazar blast.

He said the insurance companies would compensate the loss after deducting the price of accessories and depreciation.

“An insurance official told me that the insurance company would deduct 50 per cent value of rubber parts and 30 per cent of glasses. Moreover, the repayment of car loan I have taken is not yet over,” said Agarwala, a resident of Ulubari.

Sub-divisional magistrate, Kamrup (metro), C.K. Bhuyan, said the damaged cars are being removed by the police after obtaining clearance from NSG bomb experts and forensic experts.

“The vehicles damaged in the Panbazar and CJM court blasts will be kept at Panbazar police station while those damaged at Ganeshguri have been taken to Dispur police station. Those damaged vehicles, which the forensic experts and police feel will be required for investigation will be preserved while the rest will be handed over to their respective owners,” Bhuyan said.