Credit cards of victims killed in the terror attacks of Mumbai may be cross checked by their relatives because they may be eligible for compensation if the card holder had taken a personal accident cover. Insurance policies that cover "death due to any cause" also include terror attacks and insurance regulator and card issuers assure that the recipient would be pleased with the claims.

An official with SBI Cards said, "Terror attacks like the one which happened in Mumbai are covered under the terms and conditions of the policy. This cover is not for free and the customers opting for this policy pay for it."

A member from Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority (IRDA), R Kannan said, "Terror attacks would automatically be included in a policy that covers ‘death due to any cause'. It would also be absurd to make a distinction between damaged caused by state action against terrorists and damaged caused by terrorists during encounters while paying claims."

However it has been informed that nuclear, biological and chemical terrorism are not included under policies covering group personal accident. The amount of insurance cover will depend on the sum assured under the policy which the credit cardholder chooses.

Generally card issuers extend such cover at an additional payment but HSBC provides free personal accident cover to all its customers holding ‘Premium' and ‘Platinum' credit cards. The Platinum card holders of the bank are given complimentary cover of Rs 1 crore and up to Rs 10 lakh in case of accidents traveling by air and rail or road respectively.

Cardholders who choose to pay for the personal accident insurance get Rs 2 lakh cover in case of a Classic cardholders and Rs 4.5 lakh cover for holders Gold card.

Citibank has tied up with Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance and New India Assurance Company to provide the facility of insurance cover to its cardholders. MD & CEO of Royal Sundaram Alliance, Ajay Bimbhet informed that his company's agreement with Citibank includes terror cover.