Heavy Rains Cripple Pune: Wadgaonsheri Records 114.5 mm, Flash Floods And Waterlogging Reported in Many Areas
Pune, 4th June 2024: Pune experienced significant rainfall today, with Wadgaonsheri bearing the brunt, recording 114.5 mm of rain in just a few hours, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). This deluge led to severe waterlogging in various low-lying regions of the city, severely disrupting daily life.
Among the affected areas, Alpha Society in Kalyani Nagar and Esterlia Society in Khese Park, Lohgaon, reported substantial flooding within their premises. Residents criticized the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for inadequate maintenance of stormwater drainage systems, which they believe exacerbated the flooding, causing water to inundate numerous societies.
Dr. Anupam Kashyapi, former head of the IMD Pune’s weather forecasting department, commented on the record rainfall in Wadgaonsheri. He described the event as “a very intense to extremely intense spell of rain, very close to a cloudburst but not a cloudburst in the true sense.”
This intense rainfall led to flash floods, inundation of low-lying areas, poor visibility, and slippery roads. Dr. Kashyapi advised residents to exercise caution and stay updated with weather forecasts over the coming days.
Heavy waterlogging was also reported in Dhanori, Padmavati, Pune-Satara Road, and Kalyani Nagar. A Jaguar car was trapped in deep water in the underpass connecting Kalyani Nagar and Viman Nagar, highlighting the severe impact of the rainfall. This extreme weather event has exposed the inadequate drainage infrastructure, as there were no sufficient pathways for water to percolate or flow towards the stormwater lines.
Rainfall measurements across Pune until 7 PM today were as follows:
– Magarpatta: 23.0 mm
– Koregaon Park: 22.5 mm
– NDA: 4.5 mm
– Wadgaonsheri: 114.5 mm
