Among those who had come to Thane’s Wagle Estate fire station to share grief of firemen who had lost six colleagues in the recent fire accident was 50-year-old S M Mokashi.

He is neither a fireman nor a relative of any of the deceased. What compelled Mokashi alias Rajan to feel one with the firefighters was the close association he had with all of them.

Mokashi is a Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India agent and all the 250-odd firemen of Thane are on his long client list.

“If a fireman in Thane gets an insurance policy then it has to be from Mokashi. We trust him for all our insurance needs,” said Datta Khade a fireman. Besides offering condolence, Mokashi had come to convey to the firemen that families of the deceased need not worry about claiming the insurance as he would complete all formalities. As a matter of fact, Mokashi has already kept the files ready and is waiting for the families to hand over the policy certificates before the insurance amount can be paid.

“The LIC is treating it as a very special case and will hand over the insurance amount a day after formalities are completed,” said Mokashi.

However, he is not rushing things as the bereaved kin are still in a state of shock and do not have the inclination to deal in financial matters.

Though Mokashi’s portfolio boasts a 5,000-plus client list he knows all of them, including the deceased firemen, by their initials. “Fireman Jamadar had visited my office for a new policy in September,” said Mokashi.

... contd.