Three Die After Google Maps Misguides Drivers into River
by Ekta ChaubeyIndia: Three people tragically lost their lives after their car, misled by Google Maps, drove onto an under-construction bridge and plunged into the Ramganga River in Uttar Pradesh.
The accident occurred on November 23 in the Bareilly district. Eyewitnesses captured images of the damaged vehicle and the chaotic scene.
The victims, Vivek, Amit, and an unidentified third person, were travelling from Gurugram to Bareilly for a wedding. Trusting their GPS for directions, they unknowingly drove onto the incomplete flyover. Their car fell 50 feet into the shallow river below. Locals found the wreckage the next morning and alerted the authorities.
Police reported receiving information about the damaged car around 9:30 a.m. They arrived to find a car, likely a hired taxi, that had fallen from the unfinished bridge.
The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examinations. The victims’ families blame local authorities for negligence. They questioned why there were no barricades on the incomplete bridge to prevent such accidents. The families are demanding that an FIR be filed against the construction department for failing to ensure safety measures.
This incident, however, is not isolated; similar GPS-related mishaps have occurred worldwide, raising alarms regarding the potential risks associated with over-reliance on technology.
In 2021, for instance, a group of tourists in the United States found themselves stranded in a remote region of Colorado after their GPS directed them off a closed road. The GPS error led to a harrowing rescue operation, emphasizing the dire consequences that can stem from misguided navigation.
Furthermore, in 2019, a couple in New Zealand faced a perilous situation when their GPS misguided them onto a rural road that was unsuitable for their vehicle. The couple’s reliance on the navigation system led them to become stuck in a muddy field, requiring a rescue team to extract them. Such incidents demonstrate that while technology has transformed the way we navigate our world, it can also lead to life-threatening situations when users place blind trust in its guidance.