In a tragic incident in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, three young men lost their lives when their car fell from an incomplete bridge that was still shown as accessible on Google Maps. In response to the deadly accident, the UP police have sent a notice to Google, questioning the accuracy of the navigation service and demanding answers. The accident took place on November 24, when Nitin, Ajit, and Amit, residents of Farrukhabad, were traveling to Faridpur in Bareilly. The route shown on Google Maps directed them through a bridge in Muda village over the Ramganga River, which was under construction and closed for traffic. Despite the route being blocked, Google Maps continued to display it as an open, accessible path. As a result, the three young men unknowingly drove towards the incomplete bridge, which led to their car falling off the bridge, causing their deaths.
After the incident, the investigating officer at Dattaganj police station struggled for a week to find the regional contact details of Google. Unable to find them, the police resorted to sending an email to the Google Maps complaint ID. In the notice sent to Google, the police questioned why the map showed the closed bridge as accessible and held the company responsible for the confusion. The police also demanded to know who the regional officer of Google Maps was and whether the company took any measures to address the issue. The notice gives Google seven days to respond to these questions, with a warning that if the response is unsatisfactory, the officers involved in the incident may be added to the FIR.
On the fateful day, the three young men, relying on Google Maps, unknowingly followed the directions to the blocked bridge, despite the fact that local villagers had placed an obstructing wall of bricks on the road. Tragically, they drove forward and fell off the bridge, resulting in their deaths. The police are now seeking accountability from Google, raising concerns about the accuracy of the navigation service and its responsibility to prevent such incidents.
This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the reliability of digital navigation tools and the responsibility of companies like Google to ensure that their maps provide accurate and safe routing information to users. The police’s notice to Google marks the beginning of an investigation into how such a fatal error occurred, and whether Google can be held liable for the consequences.
