Family Following Google Maps Drives Into Flooded Drain in Hapur, Rescued

Overview

• The car carrying five family members plunged into a deep, water-filled roadside drain in Hapur after they followed an alternate Google Maps route, officials said, with the incident occurring on Sunday.
• Authorities reported the detour came after a nearby road at the Delhi Phatak overbridge was closed for repair work and the driver took a less familiar shortcut.
• Poor visibility and a waterlogged stretch concealed the drain; the vehicle slipped in and the car’s electronic locking system malfunctioned, trapping all occupants inside.
• A Dial 112 distress call led Hapur police to summon the fire department, which carried out a nearly two-hour rescue and evacuated the five people through windows and other access points.
• There were no reported injuries and the family thanked rescuers, but the episode highlights risks of relying solely on navigation apps at night and the need for better local signage and drainage maintenance.