Watch: SUV plunges into canal after Google maps misleads tourists

A group of tourists from Hyderabad had a narrow escape when their SUV plunged into a flooded canal in Kerala after they blindly followed directions provided by Google Maps.

The incident occurred in Kurappanthara, Kottayam, on Friday night, when the driver of the Ford Endeavour took a left turn as shown on the navigation app. However, the road was waterlogged, and the tourists mistakenly drove into the canal, thinking they were still on the road.

The four passengers in the SUV managed to escape with the help of local residents, police, and fire force personnel.The driver, who remained anonymous, said he could not identify the canal as he assumed it was a waterlogged road. He added that he was driving at a slow speed due to heavy rain.

According to the police, the passengers climbed out of the vehicle when it hit the banks of the river and broke open the windows. The SUV drifted forward about 150 meters before sinking.

In a similar incident last year, two doctors tragically died after they drove their car into a river while following Google Maps directions. This incident prompted Google to issue a statement urging users to “always pay attention to the road and your surroundings” when using their navigation app.

The recent incident in Kerala serves as a reminder of the importance of staying alert and aware while driving, even when using GPS navigation systems.