Blind Trust in Google Maps Sends Car Into Ditch Near Mumbai; Woman Rescued
Blind Trust in Google Maps Sends Car Into Ditch Near Mumbai; Woman Rescued
In a shocking turn of events, a woman in Navi Mumbai drove her car straight into a creek after blindly following directions given by Google Maps. The incident happened around 1 am on Friday, when she was driving from Belapur to Ulwe.
Instead of directing her to the correct bridge route, the navigation app reportedly guided her to a road beneath the Bay Bridge, leading her toward the Dhruvatara Jetty. Unaware of the danger ahead, she continued to follow the route until her car plunged into the water.
Luckily, members of the Marine Security Force, who were nearby, witnessed the entire accident. They acted quickly and managed to pull the woman out of the water. According to officials, she was found floating in the creek but was rescued within minutes and escaped without injuries.
Later, a crane was used to retrieve her white car from the submerged area. Videos of the dramatic rescue and car recovery have since surfaced online.
Similar Incidents
This isn’t the first time GPS-based apps have caused such confusion and accidents in India. In December 2024, three men travelling from Kanpur to Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh were led by Google Maps onto a narrow canal path. Their car overturned into the water, though all occupants were safely rescued.
In a more tragic case, a family’s car in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, fell off a broken bridge while following Google Maps. The incident claimed three lives and raised serious questions about digital map reliability in rural areas.
While Google Maps and other navigation tools have become part of our daily lives, these incidents highlight a growing concern, what happens when technology is trusted too much? Officials and safety experts are urging users to remain alert while using navigation tools, especially in unfamiliar or poorly lit areas. It’s advised to cross-check routes or ask locals when in doubt.
The woman involved in the Navi Mumbai incident is safe and recovering from the scare, but her story adds to the growing list of cautionary tales in the digital age.
