Is government-ordered demolition a valid cause for declaring a casualty?

Government-ordered demolition is considered a valid cause for declaring a casualty because it involves the intentional destruction of property that has become hazardous or is deemed a risk to public safety. When the government mandates the demolition of a property, it is typically due to conditions that render the property uninhabitable or dangerous, such as structural damage or environmental hazards. In the context of insurance, this situation would trigger coverage under a casualty policy, as casualty insurance is designed to protect against losses resulting from such unforeseen and involuntary events.

The validity of declaring a casualty in this context does not depend on whether the property was previously insured or whether damages occurred during the demolition process. Instead, it centers around the fact that the demolition was ordered by a government authority due to safety concerns, classifying it as a casualty loss.