Mumbai's richest Bappa insured for Rs 264.75 crore

With Ganesh Chaturthi festival just a day away, mandals across Mumbai have sought multi-crore insurance covers for the 10-day festival period. This year, Ganeshotsav insurance covers sought by Ganpati mandals have increased to record levels.

Mumbai’s wealthiest mandal, Gowd Saraswat Brahman Ganesh Mandal (GSB), has taken insurance cover for a whopping Rs 264.75 crore, while the most-visited Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal located at Lalbaug has opted for an insurance cover of Rs 25 crore. 

GSB is considered the richest mandal in the city because of dazzling gold ornaments that adorn the idol.

The mandal celebrates five-day Ganesh Chaturthi, unlike the other big mandals where the deity is immersed on the 10th day, and thus it is secured with an insurance of Rs 52.85 crore per day. Its insurance covers for all devotees and the deity’s ornaments against terror attacks, accidents, burglary or external damage. The biggest component of the insurance package is the Rs 224.40-crore cover for personal accident that includes volunteers and workers, at Rs 10 lakh per person.

The pandal, including the CCTV, furniture and fixtures, grocery, fruits, vegetables and computers is covered from fire, natural calamities, riots, strike, rail or road damages, electrical damage, earthquakes.

The mandal has taken insurance from the day of Ganesh Chaturthi until the ornaments are safely deposited in the bank, claimed another member. 

Meanwhile, Lalbaugcha Raja, which on several occasions sees crores of footfalls, the insurance cover is that of Rs 25 crore.