Tarlok Singh Chauhan, J.

Since common question of law and facts arise for consideration in these appeals, therefore, they were taken up together for hearing and are being disposed of by way of this common judgment.

2. The brief facts as pleaded are that one Shyam Sukh son of Shri Chhopal Sukh, who was the husband of respondent No. 3 and father of respondents No. 4 and 5 was engaged as work-charged Mate by the Public Works Department in Karchham Sub Division. On 15.6.2004, the deceased had gone by Bus to the headquarter and while coming back in a private bus owned by respondent No. 6 and insured with the petitioner Company, he met with an accident as the bus fell down in Sutluj river and was washed away. The dead body of the deceased was found near Nathpa on 6.7.2004. The employer of the deceased i.e., the Assistant Engineer, H.P.P.W.D, Karchham Sub Division submitted the accident report to the authorities concerned and copy of the same was also sent to the Court of learned Commissioner under the Workmen’s Compensation Act-cum-Land Acquisition Collector (in short ‘Commissioner’) vide endorsement dated 16.6.2004.

3. The claimants thereof filed an application for compensation i