'Didn't understand what was happening, water gushed into car': Four still in shock

KOTTAYAM: A four-member group is still in shock even though they escaped from the car that drove into the overflowing stream after following Google Maps. Thoufeeq (29), Ashwant (21), Madhav (23) and Abhirami (23) of Hyderabad were in the car proceeding to Alappuzha from Munnar via Kumarakom. 'Didn't understand what was happening.

The car drove into the stream with a loud sound and it was submerged in water. Water suddenly rushed inside the car. It was water all around and it was dark also. Screamed

but no one heard the sound. Death was confirmed. Was able to smash the window panes of the car and got out. Though the phone got wet, it was working and called the police soon. The tourists from Hyderabad left for Kerala on Friday.

Four #Tourists from #Hyderabad, had a narrowly escaped, when their luxury SUV (Ford Endeavour) plunges into a canal at #Kurappanthara in #Kottayam, #Kerala, while they were traveling to Alappuzha by following the direction shown on #GoogleMaps, at 3 am today. All are rescued. pic.twitter.com/W3iLGNhbHY

— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) May 25, 2024

Their luxury car plunged into a canal at Kurappanthara at 3:00 am on Saturday. They lost their way in the heavy rains when they reached near Manjoor Street. There were no signboards there. The vehicle drove into the stream from the area where the road split into two. As soon as the vehicle drove into the stream, the four somehow managed to get out of it. The vehicle was submerged in the waster as soon as they got out of it. The vehicle was seen floating for nearly 150 meters.

The locals of the area rushed to the spot when the tourists went and informed some houses nearby. The vehicle was found after a long search. The Kaduthuruthy police and the fire force brought the vehicle out with the help of a crane after long hours. Their certificates, bags and the documents of the vehicle have been lost.

Vehicles had fallen into the stream in the past also. Two doctors had lost their lives in Paravoor after their vehicle fell into a river.

Don't blindly trust Google Maps
Road change may not have been updated
Curves and turns can be showed wrongly
Beware of short cuts and pocket roads
Chance of showing narrower paths
Routing will be based on traffic
Geographical concept is good

Dr Saji Gopinath
VC, Digital Technology University