Another day and news of another Google Maps mishap! This time around, the navigation app from the tech giant has reportedly led a Bihari family into taking off-beat paths which were suggested as ‘shortcuts’ and finally ending up in a jungle in Karnataka.
The family was travelling from Bihar to Goa by road. It was night and they were relying heavily on Google Maps for directions. The application soon directed them to a shorter route, that it said would save them notable time and kilometres. This route, however, would pass through the dense Bheemgad forest area of Khanapur. This area falls in the Belagavi district of Karnataka. The ‘shorter route’ took them through Shiroli and Hemmadaga forests. They travelled eight kilometres into the rugged terrain. driving their Volkswagen sedan (likely a Jetta).
The more they went into the forests, the mobile network weakened and soon they were stranded with no network. This meant they Google Maps directions were no more at their service! They tried their best to find a way out but ended up being inside the jungle itself. They finally had to spend the entire night amidst the intimidating wilderness around.
With no network coverage and no clear path to make an exit, the family decided to play it hard the next morning. They walked 4 kilometers into the wild, seeking network so that they could call for help. Finally, they managed to contact the emergency helpline 112 and inform the cops about their condition. The local police sprung into action in no time and worked together with the concerned authorities to locate the family. They then escorted them out safely.
Not The First Google Maps Mishap!
This is not the first time that Google Maps directions have led people to major accidents and damages. Three died last month after a Maruti Wagon R CNG (taxi) fell off an under-construction bridge in UP. Reports confirm that the deceased were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj. There was heavy smog around and they were relying on Google Maps for directions.
The application showed the incomplete bridge as the fastest route to go from Navadia to Khallpur, and they took it. Unaware of the oncoming danger, the car sped through the bridge and finally ended up falling into the Ramganga River from a height of 50 feet. The vehicle was crushed and occupants died. The fault here lies with the contractor who did not put up warning signs or close the entry to the bridge properly.
Days after this, another accident was reported from near Barkapur village in UP. This time, a Tata Tigor driven by Divyanshu Singh from Auraiya fell into a canal, on the Bareilly-Pilibhit state highway. It was reportedly following Google Maps instructions as well. It had three occupants, all of whom escaped without any harm. The build quality of the Tigor is to be thanked here. The vehicle was later recovered by using a crane. The rescue operations were led by the locals who rushed to the scene in no time, along with the cops.
How many of you have been mislead by Google Maps 😳 appears to be a recurring problem.. i can't even count the number of times I've been directed to a dead end road 🫨
Really pity this guy in Nilgiris near Ooty #TamilNadu for trusting Google maps that led him through the… pic.twitter.com/cYGLxKtxtX
— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) January 29, 2024
In another bizarre incident, a Toyota Fortuner ended up being stuck on the stairs (!) after following instructions from Goole Maps. This happened in Ooty, Tamil Nadu- a much sought-after tourist destination in South India. Google Maps asked the SUV to take a shortcut to make a run between two roads. The shortcut turned out to be a small path that is more or less ‘walkable’ with a flight of stairs in between. The SUV soon got stuck on the stairs with its floor board rubbing against the stairs. This likely happened at night and the driver probably did not see the stairs coming!
