LPG cylinder delivery: IOCL, HPCL, BPCL announce Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia payment in case of death due to Coronavirus

Good news for all those people who are putting their lives on the block to ensure seamless distribution of LPG cylinders during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown across the country. Understanding the threat to the lives of the staff of the LPG gas distributorship chain, the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs in the unfortunate event an employee dies due to Coronavirus disease.

The announcement was made by a the three OMCs - Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for personnel including show-room staff, godown-keepers, mechanics and delivery boys.

The is a "one-time special measure, in the unfortunate case of demise of personnel like Show-room Staff, Godown-keepers, Mechanics and Delivery boys, attending duty in the LPG distributorship chain, due to the infection and impact of Covid-19," a government release said.

LPG, being an essential commodity, it has been exempted from the lockdown, and personnel are required to attend duty during this crisis period to maintain uninterrupted LPG cylinder supplies across the country to all customers, the release said.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan has welcomed the initiative of the oil companies.

In a Tweet, he said, “Welcome the humanitarian decision taken by Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL. This gesture of goodwill is a recognition of the services rendered by our personnel in these trying times. Well-being of our workers is of paramount importance, this compassionate move will strengthen the safety nets of our workforce aiding India’s fight against corona.”

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The pandemic has now infected over 1100 people in India, including 32 deaths,according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Till now, 101 people have been cured from the infection.