New Delhi: Three persons had a close call when the car in which they were travelling plunged into a canal after it navigated a flooded section of the road while following the directions shown in Google Maps in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.
According to sources, the car was travelling on Pilibhit Road in Izzat Nagar police station area of Bareilly when it fell into the Kalapur canal. Upon getting information, the police teams swung into action and reached the spot. Police pulled the car out of the canal with the help of JCB crane.
It was sheer luck that saved the lives of the three car occupants. Izzat Nagar police station in-charge Dhananjav Pandey reportedly said Divyanshu, a resident of Auraiya, and two other people with him had left in their car.
Divyanshu and the two other men were going to Pilibhit following directions of Google Maps. The Kalapur canal has eroded the road near the Barkapur village intersection. Due to this, the car overturned in the canal. And the trio in the car had a narrow escape.
Second case in 9 days
It is the second case in nine days. On November 24, a tragic accident occurred in Bareilly reportedly due to wrong direction shown on Google Maps. There is a bridge near Muda village on the road from Dataganj of Badaun to Faridpur of Bareilly, which is unfinished. Three people travelling in a car lost their lives when the driver went ahead with the Google Maps directions and took the route. As soon as the bridge ended, it plunged 20 feet deep. The negligence of PWD was also revealed in the incident. Even though it was unfinished, no barriers and indicators were installed on it. Deputy Tehsildar of Dataganj has filed a case against five engineers. The police has also issued a notice to Google Maps. Reacting to the accident, a Google spokesperson said, “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. We’re working closely with the authorities and providing our support to investigate the issue.”
Last year, in a similar tragic incident, two doctors had died in Kerala when their car had fallen off into the Periyar river while they were following the navigation app.
