A family travelling from Bihar to Goa endured a harrowing night stranded in the dense Bheemgad forest area of Khanapur, Karnataka’s Belagavi district.
They had relied on Google Maps for navigation, which directed them to a shorter route through the forest near Shiroli and Hemmadaga.
Unaware of the risks, the family ventured about eight kilometres into the rugged terrain. They soon encountered a challenging situation with no mobile network coverage and no clear path to exit. Despite repeated efforts to find their way out, they were forced to spend the night in their car, surrounded by the intimidating wilderness.
At dawn, desperate for assistance, they walked about 4 kilometres to find a location with mobile network coverage. They managed to contact emergency helpline 112, prompting a swift response from local police. Authorities located the stranded family and safely escorted them out of the forest.
This incident followed a similar tragedy in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district, where three people died after Google Maps led them onto an under-construction bridge, causing their car to plunge into the Ramganga river.
