A group of tourists from Hyderabad, relying on Google Maps for navigation, accidentally drove into a swollen stream near Kuruppanthara in South Kerala, police reported on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday night as the four-member group, which included a woman, was traveling towards Alappuzha.
Due to heavy rains, the road they were on was submerged by water overflowing from the stream. Unfamiliar with the area, the tourists drove into the waterbody while following directions from Google Maps.
Kerala Police Caution Against Use Of Google Maps During Monsoon
This incident is not the first of its kind reported in Kerala. In October last year, two doctors lost their lives in a car accident, allegedly after following directions from Google Maps and plunging into a river.
The two doctors, Advaith (29) and Ajmal (29), died in the accident, while three others who were traveling with them sustained injuries.
In response to the incident, Kerala police issued cautionary guidelines for using technology during the monsoon season.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kerala police warned against relying on technology for travel on unfamiliar routes during the monsoon. They cautioned that while maps may suggest routes with less traffic, they may not always be safe.
"Google Maps may lead to impassable roads with overflowing streams, landslides, fallen trees, narrow roads, and dangerous roads where smooth movement is not possible," the post read, as reported by PTI.
The police stated that road traffic would often be diverted during natural disasters such as floods and heavy rainfall, and Google Maps may not have this information.