Mumbai: In a bizarre incident highlighting growing concerns over digital navigation dependency, a woman in Navi Mumbai drove her car into a ditch on Friday morning after following Google Maps directions without realizing the error.
The woman was en route from Belapur to Ulwe, when the app misdirected her—guiding her not to the Bay Bridge, but to a lower road near Dhruvatara Jetty. Trusting the app, she continued driving until her vehicle plunged into a water-filled ditch.
A woman driving at night in Navi Mumbai relied on Google Maps for directions to Ulwe. Unfortunately, the app misled her, and she ended up driving her car straight into a creek near Belapur. The vehicle plunged into the water near the Dhruvtara Jetty. Thankfully, marine security… pic.twitter.com/2lFpAzKQoY
— Jayprrakash Singh (@jayprakashindia) July 26, 2025
Fortunately, personnel from the marine security unit, who witnessed the mishap, quickly sprang into action and rescued her. She was found floating and escaped completely unharmed. The car was later pulled out using a crane, and visuals from the scene have since gone viral.
This isn’t the first time Google Maps navigation has led to danger. In a tragic 2023 incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun, three people died when their car, following Google’s directions, fell off a broken bridge into a river. Similarly, tourists in Kerala once drove into a rain-swollen stream while relying on the app.
These repeated cases of misnavigation have raised serious questions about the accuracy and reliability of GPS-based apps, especially in areas with poor road conditions or construction changes. Authorities are now urging users to stay alert and not depend blindly on technology, especially in unfamiliar terrain.
