The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), through Circular No. IRDAI/NL/GDL/98(01)/07/2026 dated 31st July, 2026, has issued guidelines for insurance claims arising from floods commencing on 19th July, 2026 in the four Assam districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat, which have been declared a natural disaster. Insurers are advised to immediately mobilize resources, including surveyors and investigators, appoint senior Nodal Officers to oversee claims, and communicate these appointments to the Chief Secretary. They are required to activate and publicize 24×7 helplines, publish district contact details on their websites, and conduct awareness campaigns. The circular directs insurers to establish empowered district claim desks, carry out immediate surveys, expedite claim processing, and make on-account interim payments where appropriate. Policyholders should be encouraged to use electronic communication and digital claim processes wherever possible, while insurers should limit documentation to that necessary for substantiating claim amounts. For loss of life claims where death certificates cannot be obtained due to non-recovery of bodies, claims may be considered if the insured’s details match lists published by the State, Central Government or other appropriate government authorities. All life, general and health insurers must submit weekly claims data to IRDAI in the prescribed format.
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
Circular No: IRDAI/NL/GDL/98(01)/07/2026 | Date: 31st July, 2026
To: All CEOs / CMDs of all Insurance Companies, including Life and Stand-Alone Health Insurance Companies
Re: Guidelines on Insurance claims relating to natural disaster affecting four districts of Assam, viz. Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat
As you are aware, following widespread damage from floods commencing from the 19th July, 2026 in the State of Assam affecting the four districts viz. Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat (Declared as Natural Disaster), there is an urgent need for the insurance industry to take immediate steps to mitigate the hardships of the affected insured population for quick registration and to expedite claim settlement process.
In this regard, all Insurance Companies are advised to mobilize all resources to ensure immediate service response as outlined below:
Immediate Response: Insurers must mobilize resources, including surveyors and investigators, and appoint senior Nodal Officers to oversee claims in affected areas. The Nodal Officer appointment should be communicated to the Chief Secretary immediately. Districts claims may be overseen by a designated District Claims Service Head.
Customer Support: All Insurers should activate, publish 24×7 helplines to respond / assist Claimants and launch extensive awareness campaign duly highlighting the measures taken. The contact particulars of the District heads should be published on the Insurer’s website and necessary publicity may also be given in the press and digital media.
Claims Handling: Utilize special, empowered district desks for prompt surveys and facilitate speedy processing of claims and settlement including on-account interim payments to assist early reinstatement of property/business. It needs to be ensured that all claims are surveyed immediately and claim payments/ on account payments are disbursed at the earliest.
Insurers shall encourage Policyholders to use electronic communication wherever possible for correspondence while initiating the claim and filing all the relevant documents. Efforts shall be made to ensure that digital processes are resorted to the extent possible for assessment of claims.
Insurers are also expected to review and streamline processing of claims by ensuring only such documentation necessary to substantiate claim quantum, to ensure expeditious final settlement.
With regard to claims involving loss of life, where difficulty is experienced in obtaining a death certificate due to non-recovery of body etc., if the details of the Insured matches with the details of the deceased published by State / Central Government or appropriate / Govt. authorities., the claim may be considered without insisting for death certificate.
Reporting: Format for reporting is enclosed with this circular, all insurers (Life, General and Health) must submit weekly claims data to the IRDAI.
(Deepak Sood)
(Member (Non-Life)
