In yet another incident of Google Maps leading travelers astray, a car accident occurred on an under-construction highway in Hathras district, leaving two people injured. The mishap took place in the Hathras Junction police station area near Vahanpur.
According to the police, Bareilly residents Vimlesh Srivastava and Kushal Kumar were traveling to Mathura using Google Maps for navigation. Late at night, after passing through Sikandra Rao, they followed directions onto the under-construction Mathura-Bareilly Highway. Due to the absence of reflective boards warning about roadblocks, their car collided with a heap of stones and soil, causing significant damage.
The injured duo promptly informed the police, who arrived at the scene, cleared the car from the highway, and rushed the victims to a hospital for treatment.
This is not the first time Google Maps has caused inconvenience or accidents. Recently, a family from Meerut endured hours of distress while trying to reach Saharanpur from Haridwar at night.
Vinod Kumar, a resident of Meerut’s Shastri Nagar, was traveling with his wife and son. Initially, their journey via Google Maps was smooth until they reached Bhagwanpur. The app then suggested a shortcut through a link road to Saharanpur. About 10 kilometers into this route, they encountered a dry but rocky stream, making it impossible to proceed.
The app redirected them to another route, leading to hours of wandering in forested areas. Eventually, they managed to contact a relative near Bihari Garh, who guided them to safety. The family reached their destination close to midnight, heaving a sigh of relief. Last month, Google Maps was blamed for a major accident in Bareilly when it directed a car onto an incomplete bridge, resulting in three friends falling off and sustaining severe injuries.
Such incidents highlight the risks of relying solely on digital navigation systems without verifying local conditions. Authorities and travelers are urged to exercise caution, especially on unfamiliar or under-construction routes.
