Overview

• On July 5 in Jangaon district, Telangana, a Google Maps misrouting directed an electric SUV onto a bridge still under construction, causing it to slip into the adjacent canal.
• The vehicle’s five occupants, all from Maharashtra and en route from Husnabad to Tirupati, were rescued by villagers and police, with four suffering only minor injuries.
• Inspector T Damodar Reddy said the under-construction bridge had just three pillars in place and poor nighttime visibility prevented the driver from seeing the designated diversion.
• Local officials have launched a review of on-site warning signs and mapping data accuracy to ensure future diversions around incomplete structures are clearly marked.
• The incident highlights a broader pattern of outdated navigation data endangering motorists in rural India and has intensified calls for real-time infrastructure updates and stronger collaboration between tech firms and public works departments.