Kerala Google Maps Tragedy: Doctor drives car accidentally into Periyar River, two dead
Two young doctors from Kerala, both aged 29, lost their lives while following the directions given by Google Maps. The fatal incident occurred in the Gothuruth area of Kochi on Sunday morning
Highlights
- Two young doctors from Kerala, both aged 29, lost their lives while following Google Maps
- A similar incident took place in the US as Google Maps guided a navy veteran in the wrong direction
- Three additional car passengers were rescued by localites, who then took them to a nearby hospital where their conditions were reported to be stable
Google Maps is undoubtedly a valuable tool for finding our way, but it's a stark reminder that blind reliance on it can sometimes lead to disastrous consequences. In a heart-wrenching incident, two young doctors from Kerala, both aged 29, lost their lives while following the directions given by Google Maps. The fatal incident occurred in the Gothuruth area of Kochi during a dark, rainy Sunday morning.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time lives have been lost due to misdirection from navigation apps. Last September, Philip Paxson, father and US Navy veteran, lost his life after Google Maps guided him onto an unmarked, collapsed bridge without warnings, highlighting concerns about app accuracy.
Dependence on technology takes a tragic turn
Advaith, one of the doctors, was driving a Honda Civic with three other passengers. The combination of poor visibility due to heavy rain and unfamiliar surroundings led Advaith to place complete trust in the route displayed by Google Maps.
The tragedy occurred as a result of the driver failing to make an important turn that had been indicated by the map and continuing straight ahead. They were unaware that this path led directly to a waterlogged portion rather than a road, which resulted in their car sinking into the Periyar River.
Blinded by rain and misdirection
The rain was so heavy that it was hard to see properly, which made their situation even worse. The authorities said that because of the rain, they couldn’t see well. They were using Google Maps for directions, but instead of turning left as the app suggested, they kept going straight and ended up in the river by mistake, as per the authorities.
Local residents rushed to the scene and managed to rescue three passengers, including a woman, from the submerged Honda Civic car. Tragically, they were unable to save the two doctors. Scuba divers were called in to recover bodies, while the survivors received medical attention.
A grim reminder of tech caution
This heart-wrenching incident reminds us how careful we should be when using technology like GPS for directions, especially in tough weather or places we don’t know well.
Such tragedies underscore the significance of using navigation apps with care and vigilance.
