This appeal under Section 173, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is directed against the judgment dated 18-6-2013 passed by the learned Member, Motor Accident Claims, Tribunal, West Tripura, Agartala in T.S. (MAC) Case No. 215 of 2012 awarding a compensation amounting to Rs.15,36,000/- to the four claimant-respondents for the death of the deceased in a vehicular accident.

2. The facts relevant for disposal of the appeal may be briefly noted at the outset. The case of the claimant-respondents is that on 26-3-2011, the deceased, Sunil Paul alias Sunil Chandra Paul returning to his house along with other passengers in a bus bearing registration No. TR-01-A-1428 driven rashly and negligently by its driver and that when the bus reached Mohanpur near DCM Office along Agartala-Simna Road under Sidhai Police Station, the driver of the bus lost control of the bus and dashed against a road side tree thereby causing grievous injuries to him. He succumbed to his injuries soon after he was taken to GB Hospital for treatment. The deceased was 45 years old at the time of the accident, was a businessman and used to earn a monthly income of Rs.20,000/-. The claimant-respondent No. 1 is the