Pune city and surrounding areas were lashed by heavy rain on Sunday night, accompanied by intense lightning and thunder, disrupting normal life and even flight operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the district, warning of more moderate to heavy showers in the coming hours.
At Pune airport, operations were severely hit between midnight and 8 am on September 15. Fourteen flights were diverted due to poor weather, while three eventually managed to return to Pune. The Indian Air Force extended support by permitting civil aircraft movements during military block time, as per the NOTAM.
Airport officials said teams from AAI, CISF, airlines, and other stakeholders worked through the night to ensure passenger comfort, arranging extra seating, food, tea, coffee, and drinking water. Flight operations have since returned to normal.
Rescue in Haveli
Continuous rain also triggered flooding in several parts of the Pune district. At 3 am on Monday, floodwaters entered Rupe Vasti in Theur village, Haveli taluka, trapping around 150 residents. A joint team from PMRDA Fire Brigade (Wagholi station) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot and rescued more than 70 villagers.
A bus that was damaged after a tree fell on it amid Sunday night’s downpour in Pune. Pics/By Special Arrangement
According to PMRDA PRO Dr Dnyaneshwar Bhale, cattle, including buffaloes, goats, and poultry, were partially saved, though some livestock were swept away. Thankfully, no human casualties were reported.
Dams release water
Catchment areas of Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar dams also recorded heavy rainfall, sharply raising water levels. The irrigation department increased discharge from Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha river from 10,611 cusecs to 14,547 cusecs at 10 am on Monday. Authorities have urged riverside residents to remain on alert.
A bus that was damaged after a tree fell on it amid Sunday night’s downpour in Pune. Pics/By Special Arrangement
IMD senior scientist SS Sanap told mid-day, “The rain situation will continue till tomorrow [Tuesday]. This is part of the monsoon showers, not retreating showers. Normally, Maharashtra records retreating rains around September 10, but this time showers returned from Rajasthan.”
The heavy spell has been linked to a low-pressure belt over the Bay of Bengal and Vidarbha, coupled with cyclonic circulations over northeast Bangladesh, central Assam, and the Arabian Sea.
Local incidents
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the compound wall of Madhur Angan Society at Ravet collapsed near Chandrabhaga Corner, behind Legacy Exotica Society. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, the Pune Fire Brigade responded to at least 10 incidents of tree falls across the city between Sunday evening and Monday morning.
An auto that was crushed by a fallen tree in Pune
Administration’s appeal
With swollen rivers and waterlogging in several areas, the Pune administration has urged citizens to avoid going near rivers, streams, or nullahs. The next 24 hours are considered critical given the intensity of rainfall.
