Google Maps Leads Family to Near-Death in Nalagarh; Video Captures Harrowing Ordeal

Over-reliance on digital navigation tools nearly proved fatal for a family in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district. They narrowly escaped disaster after Google Maps directed them onto a non-existent road leading to a washed-away bridge.

The Nalagarh-based family was en route to Una for their daughter’s important examination. Opting for what the app suggested was a shorter path via the Dabhauta bridge, they bypassed the safer main highway through Bharatgarh and Kiratpur. Crucially, the Dabhauta bridge had been destroyed by floods almost two years earlier and was never rebuilt.

Their vehicle became stuck in the fast-flowing river current and was carried kilometres downstream. Prompt action by local villagers rescued all four family members, preventing a tragedy.

Reports indicate the family originally intended to take the established Bharatgarh-Kiratpur road. However, trusting Google Maps, they were diverted towards the defunct Dabhauta crossing. With no warning signs or barriers present, their car plunged into the river, endangering everyone inside. As the vehicle was swept away, local residents bravely intervened to pull them to safety.

The incident has provoked strong reactions locally. The head of the Dabhota panchayat expressed anger, stating that Google Maps continues to incorrectly list the destroyed bridge as a valid route. He emphasized that unsuspecting travelers are routinely misled onto this dangerous path. He urgently called on authorities to install clear warning signs, barricades, and advisories to prevent future accidents.

This echoes a recent incident reported by news agencies in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, where one person died and four were injured after a car following a Google Maps suggested route hit a barricade and collided with a tree.