In a recent incident, a family from Hyderabad found themselves in a precarious situation after following Google Maps into a swollen river in Kerala. The family was on a trip to the Alappuzha district when their Ford Endeavour SUV ended up in a river in Kuruppanthara, Kottayam district, late on Friday night. Heavy rainfall had caused the road to be covered in water, and the family, unfamiliar with the area, relied solely on Google Maps for navigation.
As they traveled, the driver noticed the road was waterlogged and proceeded cautiously at a speed of 10 km per hour. However, the front tires of the vehicle soon became submerged, causing the SUV to lose control and float forward. The family of four, including a woman, quickly pulled down the windows and managed to escape. Fortunately, a nearby police patrol vehicle, with the help of local residents, assisted them to safety.
The driver recounted the harrowing experience, noting that the heavy rains began around 2-3 pm, and the vehicle started floating after the front tires sank into the water. Despite the dangerous situation, all family members reached the shore safely. The SUV, however, was completely submerged, highlighting the severe undercurrent and strong flow of the river due to the rainfall.
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Local residents reported that this was not the first incident of its kind in the area, blaming the misleadingly small signboard that fails to adequately warn road users. The Ford Endeavour SUV was later retrieved from the river using a crane. This incident underscores the potential dangers of over-reliance on navigation technology, especially in unfamiliar and challenging weather conditions.