Tourists drive into stream in Kerala while following Google Maps

Hyderabad, May 25:  A tourist group from Hyderabad drove their SUV into a stream in Kuruppanthara area of Kerala’s Kottayam district while navigating using Google Maps. The incident occurred on Saturday morning when the tourists, three men and one woman, were going to Alappuzha.

The tourists did not suffer any injuries and were rescued by police personnel and locals on time. However, the car got completely submerged in the stream and efforts are on to retrieve it.

The road the tourists were travelling on was covered by water overflowing from the stream due to heavy rains in Kerala. The driver did not see the route and blindly followed Google Maps, driving right into the water body.

A nearby police patrolling unit and local residents rushed to rescue the tourists.

Earlier this year, a vehicle got stuck on a flight of steps in Tamil Nadu’s Gudalur after being misled by Google Maps. The incident happened when a group of friends were returning to Karnataka.

They were directed by Google Maps through residential quarters and onto a staircase not meant for vehicular traffic.

Last year, a similar incident took place in which two doctors lost their lives after they drove into a river while reportedly following Google map directions.

Following the incident, the Kerala police had issued cautionary guidelines on using technology during the monsoon season.

-PTI