Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A widow has won a ₹10 lakh insurance claim after her husband lost his life trying to save a drowning child in the Narmada River on Friday in Bhopal.
The insurance company had rejected the claim, saying the husband shouldn’t have entered the water because he couldn’t swim.
But the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission rejected this reasoning and called his act brave and humane, not careless.
According to Dainik Bhaskar, the late Dattu Sonwane from Bhopal had a personal accident insurance policy with United India Insurance for ₹10 lakh.
In August 2022, he jumped into the river at Anwli ghat to save a drowning child. The child survived, but Dattu drowned.
When his wife filed a claim, the insurance company denied it, arguing that Dattu’s inability to swim violated the policy.
The widow took the case to the consumer forum, which ruled in her favor and ordered the insurer to pay the full amount with interest and legal costs.
Advocate Rachna Singh Chauhan, representing the widow, said, “Dattu’s act was selfless and heroic. Denying the claim based on swimming skills is unfair and cruel.”
Advocate Gyanendra Kumar Singh added, “Trying to save a life is a natural human act and should not be punished.”
This decision highlights that insurance companies cannot reject claims when a person dies trying to save others.
