The UP police have booked four engineers of the public works department and an official of Google Maps in connection with the death of three men whose car fell off an under-construction bridge while following directions on the Google Maps.
According to police , the driver was led by Google Maps into taking the unsafe route, leading to the car falling into Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge early Sunday.
On a fateful Sunday morning in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, three young men lost their lives in a tragic car accident. The accident occurred on an under-construction bridge over the Ramganga River, a route misidentified as safe by Google Maps.
The deceased, Nitin Kumar (30), Amit Kumar, and Ajit Kumar, were on their way to a family wedding in Faridpur from Badaun. Unfortunately, their journey ended in tragedy as their car fell off the incomplete bridge.
Who were they?
Nitin and Amit hailed from Farrukhabad.
Ajit, a distant relative, was a resident of Mainpuri.
Nitin and Ajit worked as drivers in Gurugram.
Negligence by Authorities:
No barricades, barriers, or reflective signs were installed on the incomplete bridge.
A thin wall that initially blocked the way had been broken by unknown individuals.
Reliance on Navigation Apps:
Google Maps incorrectly showed the route as operational.
The navigation system continued to guide the victims to the incomplete bridge.
Environmental Factors:
Dense fog in the early hours might have further obscured visibility.
A culpable homicide case under Section 105 of the IPC has been registered against:
Four Public Works Department officials:
Assistant Engineers: Abhishek Kumar and Mohammad Arif
Junior Engineers: Maharaj Singh and Ajay Gangwar
Google Maps Regional Manager:
Alleged failure to update accurate route information.
The complaint accuses authorities of gross negligence and highlights flaws in the navigation system’s data.
In a statement, Google expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and assured cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Legal Perspective:
Sayma Khan, Lawyer at Allahabad High Court:
Under Section 79 of the IT Act, platforms like Google Maps are intermediaries and usually protected from liability.
However, this protection may not apply if the platform knowingly retains incorrect data.
Abhishek Dixit, Lawyer:
Local authorities hold primary responsibility for road signage and safety.
Coordination between administrations and navigation companies is crucial to prevent such incidents.
The accident sparked heated debates online:
Lubna Shah: “This negligence is unacceptable. How could this happen?”
Kamran Siddiqui: “Why weren’t there barricades in place? Navigation isn’t the real culprit.”
Kashmira Kolah: “Where were the diversion signs? The officials must be held accountable.”
India has over 460 million regular social media users, and 26% of mobile users rely on navigation systems like Google Maps.
While apps provide invaluable assistance, they depend on accurate data from local authorities to ensure user safety.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Herald Goa staff and is published from a syndicated feed with Agencies Input )