Heavy Rainfall Alert Issued for Pune and Surrounding Ghat Areas

Pune, 3rd August 2024: Rainfall activity intensified in Pune and the surrounding regions starting from the morning, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) recording 33.3mm of rain at its Shivajinagar observatory in the 33 hours leading up to 5:30 pm on Friday.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for the ghat sections in Pune, Satara, and Raigad districts for Saturday and Sunday. “There is a high possibility of over 200mm of rain in the next 24 hours in isolated pockets of these ghat sections. People should avoid visiting places in the vicinity of ghat areas for safety,” stated a senior official from the IMD.

Significant rainfall was recorded in various parts of the ghat section within the district, with Tamhini receiving 168mm, Bhira 151mm, and Lonavla 103mm during the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Friday. “Rainfall activity in the ghats has been at its peak for the past few days. We are expecting heavy rainfall in the next three to four days. Driving vehicles and trekking amid heavy showers can prove fatal. Thus, people should not plan tours in ghat areas this upcoming weekend,” advised the Met official.

Discussing the weather patterns influencing the current conditions, a senior Met official explained, “The cyclonic circulation over the Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand, along with the associated cyclonic circulation in the middle tropospheric levels, is likely to move west-northwestward and intensify into a depression over Jharkhand and its neighborhood within the next 24 hours. Additionally, the monsoon trough is active and near its normal position at the mean sea level. It is likely to persist near its normal position for the next four to five days. These two weather conditions have influenced the current weather of the state, resulting in increased rainfall activity.”

Madhya Maharashtra, including Pune district, is expected to receive moderate rain over the next three days. “A similar condition might be observed in the Vidarbha region,” the IMD official added.

Pune city experienced intermittent showers from Friday morning, with the catchment areas of dams also reporting substantial rainfall. Hadapsar and Koregaon Park recorded 24mm and 23.6mm of rain, respectively, on Friday. Other areas such as Wadgaonsheri (23.6mm), Magarpatta (23.5mm), Chinchwad (22.9mm), and NDA (22.6mm) also received considerable showers over the last 24 hours.

“The city will witness cloudy skies for the next three days and is expected to receive moderate rainfall. Waterlogging is anticipated in low-lying areas and on some roads,” remarked another IMD official.