Buzz
After the regrettable accident of an 18-year-old Russian man, Google Maps decided to remove the Kolyma highway from its system to avoid future risks, especially during winter weather. The usage of the map app has long been a habit for many. However, quite a few times, this app has led us into tricky situations. Most recently, we all remember the sad incident of the 18-year-old Russian boy who followed Google Maps' directions onto the death road. The icy weather of -50°C on the Kolyma highway made both the car and the phone inoperable, leading to that tragic incident.
In this regard, the 18-year-old boy named Sergey Ustinov and his friend Vladislav Istomin, while traveling from Yakutsk to the Magadan port, followed Google Maps' instructions. According to the usual practice, the app suggests the shortest route, but they didn't know that the suggested route was the infamous death road. After a week of searching, when the police found them, Sergey had frozen to death in the car, while Vladislav, fortunately, survived but is in critical condition with paralyzed limbs and the risk of disability due to frostbite.
After this incident, Google Maps decided to completely erase this road from its system. Besides harsh weather conditions, the area is also highly dangerous due to slippery surfaces caused by uncleared snow. Additionally, some sections of the road are severely damaged, posing significant risks.
The R504 Kolyma highway, spanning over 2,000 km between Oymyakon and Yakutsk, is famously known as the Road of Bones, the coldest road in the world. It is estimated that around 250,000 prisoners died during its construction in these extreme weather conditions, and their bones still scatter along this road. Local residents mention that nighttime temperatures in this area can drop to -60°C, with daytime highs reaching only -51°C. To learn more about life in this frigid region, you can read the details at the provided link.According to India
