Again!! Google Maps misguides car into river in Kerala
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Kasaragod: In Kerala’s Kasaragod, Google Maps sent a car and two riders inside to a swollen river on Thursday, though the riders miraculously escaped the accident.
The car met with the accident on the Pallanchi Forest road in Kuttikol after it fell into a river early in the morning of the day. The passengers were identified as M Abdul Rashid and A Thashreef. They were en route to a hospital at Uppinangady in Karnataka and were guided by Google Maps.
At the accident spot, they were attempting to enter a bridge over the Pallanchi River, but the bridge lacked barricades. Also, the swollen river, which is under heavy rains, has submerged the bridge. The driver mistook the bridge as a road, and it was dark outside. The low visibility also resulted in the accident, it is learned.
After falling into the river, the car got drifted with the water flow for around 150 metres and got stuck against some bushes. Lowering windows, the passengers saved themselves and fire and rescue, along with locals, brought them to shore.
The road has two bridges, and the bridge that the car took was the older one. There is a new, taller bridge nearby. Unfortunately, Google Maps still shows the older one.
Last month, a tourist group from Hyderabad, who were using Google Maps, drove into a swollen stream near Kuruppanthara in the Kottayam district of the state, PTI reported.
The road they were travelling on was covered by water overflowing from the stream due to the heavy rains, and since the tourists were unfamiliar with the area, they drove right into the water body while navigating using Google Maps, Police said.
In October last year, two young doctors died in a car accident, which occurred after they allegedly followed directions on Google Maps and fell into a river. Following the incident, the Kerala police had issued cautionary guidelines for using the technology during the monsoon season.