A Bihar family, on their way to Goa for a holiday, had a frightening night in the Bhimgad forest in Karnataka's Belagavi district after relying on Google Maps for directions.
Ranjit Das and his family were driving to Goa when Google Maps suggested a route through the Shiroli and Hemmadaga areas. Unaware of the trouble ahead, they followed the directions, which led them 7-8 kilometers deep into the dense Bhimgad forest late on the night of December 4.
With no mobile network in the area, the family became stranded and couldn’t call for help. They had to spend the night in their car, stuck in the unfamiliar and potentially dangerous forest.
The next morning, Das walked nearly four kilometers in search of a mobile signal. Once he regained network coverage, he contacted emergency services using the helpline number, 112. The local police responded and rescued the family.
Khanapur police inspector Manjunath Nayak said that after Das contacted emergency services, the Belagavi police control room passed the information to the Khanapur police. Using GPS coordinates, they located the family with the help of local villagers.
The inspector also mentioned that the family was lucky to find mobile service, as the forest is home to various wildlife. Recently, a bear attack in the area had seriously injured a farmer.
This isn’t the first time Google Maps has been criticised for giving inaccurate directions. In late November, authorities launched an investigation after three men died when their car, following a route suggested by Google Maps, drove off an incomplete bridge in Uttar Pradesh.
The driver, relying on the app, drove the car into a river.
Earlier, in August 2024, a user named Ashish Kacholia shared how Google Maps caused him to miss a flight. The app predicted a 1-hour 45-minute travel time from HSR Layout to Kempegowda International Airport (over 50 kilometers).
However, the trip took three hours, causing him to miss his flight.
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