Google Maps Error Allegedly Lands Woman Driving Car Into Ditch In Navi Mumbai, Company Issues Clarification

Navi Mumbai: A woman driving a car in Navi Mumbai fell into a ditch after blindly following route directions on Google Maps.

The incident occurred near Belapur in Navi Mumbai late Friday night, around 1 a.m., while the woman was on her way to Ulwe.

Instead of directing her to take the Bay Bridge in Belapur, the app misdirected her to a route beneath the bridge, leading to Dhruvatara Jetty. As a result, she drove her car into a creek and was seen floating in water.

Upon seeing the woman struggling in the water, officials from the marine security department acted swiftly, rescuing her and assisting in retrieving her submerged car from the ditch. Videos circulating online show a crane being used to pull the woman's white car from the water.

Had it not been for the intervention of the maritime security team at the right time, the situation could have been life threatening for the woman.

Fortunately, due to the prompt response of the officials, she suffered no injuries.

Google Issues Clarification

Google has now issued a clarification on the matter after conducting a thorough investigation. The company said that these reports of the app misdirecting the user are incorrect.

In a statement to Republic, Google said, “We wish to clarify that the road under the bridge is not mapped for navigation in Google Maps, and our internal review confirms that Maps did not recommend a route through it.​​The only route Google Maps provides in this area is through the Belapur Bridge over the Panvel Creek. We built Google Maps with safety and reliability in mind and will continue to focus on delivering a high quality navigation experience to people everywhere.”

While GPS apps have undoubtedly made navigation easier and more confident for individuals, it is always advisable to remain alert when driving in unfamiliar or remote locations.

Also Read: Ahead Of Polls, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Hikes Monthly Pension For Journalists From Rs 6000 To Rs 15000