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New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
Staffer's death sparks debate over untrained union workers handling luxury vehicle unloading in Kerala
KOCHI: A tragic incident at a Kochi car dealership has reignited a long-simmering debate: Should untrained trade union workers be allowed to unload high-end vehicles? On the night of June 22, a brand-new Range Rover worth around Rs 4.5 crore went out of control while being unloaded from a trailer at a dealer yard in Chalikkavattom. The car crushed Roshan Antony Xavier, 36, a dealership staffer, to death. He was standing nearby when the vehicle, reportedly being handled by a trade union worker, veered off course. One of the union workers sustained minor injuries. The Palarivattom police have booked a case against the worker involved. 'Our demand is that only trained personnel should unload the vehicles, and that the government should give it legal backing. In our case, after a couple of minor mishaps, we insisted on doing the task with our expert staff. But even then, the trade unions charge 'nokkukooli',' Sabu Johny, an office- bearer, Kerala Automobile Dealers Association, told TNIE. It's learnt that headload workers unions charge around Rs 4,000 for luxury cars and half the amount for regular ones, claiming that they have the unloading rights of such cars being brought to the dealer yards or showrooms from the manufacturing plants by trucks. 'There is only one solution. Only those who got the training and expertise, whether the personnel is of the transporter, dealer or the union, should be unloading the vehicles. That's the demand of the association. The mishaps happen when people who don't have much experience with the vehicle systems, take up the job. Now there shouldn't be another death due to such mishaps in Kerala,' said R Renjith, KADA administrator. 'We've submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister's Office. The Under Secretary at the CMO replied that the same is being forwarded to the Ernakulam Collector to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident. A team of police and other officials inspected the vehicle and arrived at the conclusion that there was nothing faulty with the vehicle and that a manual error while unloading led to the mishap,' he added.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- The Hindu
Case of accident while offloading car turns legally complicated
The incident in which a premium car ran over a man while being offloaded from a trailer near the vehicle dealer's yard at Chalikkavattom here on June 22, 2025, has become legally complicated, even as it has been confirmed that human error and not machine defect caused the accident. The deceased was identified as Roshan Antony Xavier, 36, of Pandikudi in Mattancherry. Anshad, who was engaged to offload the vehicles from the trailer, was booked by the Palarivattom police for causing death by negligence and endangering life or personal safety through rash or negligent behaviour. The deceased, standing on the ramp of the trailer, was knocked by the vehicle, which was being driven out in reverse. The car also knocked down a few electric posts in the area before coming to a halt. The Motor Vehicles department (MVD) along with the city police on Thursday (June 26, 2025) conducted a test whereby the car involved in the accident was driven by an authorised driver of the dealer concerned to rule out machine defect. In fact, it was found that if repaired, it could be made road fit. Later, the accused in the case, who was summoned, could not satisfactorily explain the functionalities of the same model vehicle, substantiating the police charge of rash and negligent driving. 'The vehicle entailed only a marine cargo insurance, which is valid only till it is offloaded. Besides, a vehicle on the road should be covered by a trade certificate, temporary registration or permanent registration. The vehicle involved in the accident had none of these, making it a very legally complicated case,' said MVD sources. The vehicle only has Form 22, which is referred to as the vehicle's 'birth certificate.' It is only once the vehicle is inspected on being offloaded and an inspection certificate is drawn up does the vehicle gets added to the database of the manufacturing company. In this case, the accident took place even before the vehicle could be inspected. As things stand, the MVD has only initiated measures to suspend the driving licence of the accused. 'This is a very complicated case, and we need to explore how to take this forward. A report will be given to the police shortly,' said MVD sources.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- The Hindu
Worker run over by premium car while offloading it from trailer in Kochi
A man died and another was injured after being reportedly run over by a new Range Rover while being driven out from a trailer near the automobile company's yard at Chalikkavattom here on Sunday (June 22, 2025) around 11.30 p.m. The deceased was identified as Roshan Antony Xavier, 36, of Pandikudi in Mattancherry. The injured was identified as Anish. Though both were rushed to a nearby hospital, Roshan was declared brought dead. The Palarivattom police have registered a case against Anshad, who was engaged to offload the vehicles from the trailer. The incident took place along the service road of National Highway-66. According to the first information report (FIR), the car was driven out of the trailer in reverse gear at high speed knocking down both the workers standing on the trailer's ramp. The police booked Anshad under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 125 (endanger life or personal safety through rash or negligent behaviour). He was released on bail. Reportedly, the deceased and the injured worker hardly had the time to respond and move away as the car came at them in a flash. The car knocked down a few electric posts in the area before coming to a halt after ramming an iron fence. 'The accused claims to have experience of driving the premium car having offloaded the same category car a couple of days ago. It seems a case of negligence. We have looked into all possible aspects and examined the CCTV footage from the area,' said Palarivattom police sources. The vehicles are offloaded along the service road along the national highway at Chalikkavattom since the trailer cannot enter the company's yard on the opposite side owing to low hanging lines.
