Splash City: Pune & Pimpri Chinchwad Wading Through Record Rains

Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad have been lashed by continuous heavy rains since Tuesday, paralyzing daily life to a virtual halt in the twin cities and nearby districts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that Pimpri Chinchwad witnessed a record 101 mm of rainfall in a day—the season's highest so far—and Pune city received 40 mm, a sharp beginning to the pre-monsoon season.

 

Most Affected Areas

The rains have resulted in heavy waterlogging in various localities, including:

Low-lying areas and major roads have been flooded, resulting in gargantuan traffic jams and delays in public transport. People have battled through waterlogged roads, and connectivity to important business centers like Hinjawadi has been hit hard.

 

Disruptions and Damage

The heavy downpours have caused extensive power failures, especially in Pimpri Chinchwad and Kondhwa, where some areas have experienced electricity cuts of more than 90 minutes. There have been reports of several incidents of trees falling in both cities, with the fire department dealing with at least 15 such calls in Pune. No casualties have been reported yet.

 

Boundary walls and roadside hoardings have also fallen in some areas because of the strong winds that came with the rains, instilling anxiety about infrastructure safety before the complete onset of the monsoon.

 

Weather Alerts and Outlook

The IMD has put out an orange alert for Pune and surrounding areas, warning of sustained heavy to very heavy rains between May 21 and May 23. Isolated places may see thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds up to 50 km/h. Citizens are asked to remain indoors and not venture into water-logged areas as emergency responders remain on high alert.

 

Record Rainfall

This May is officially Pune's wettest since 2015, with 116.8 mm of rain falling between May 1 and 21, breaking all previous records and pointing to the unprecedented virility of this year's pre-monsoon rains.

 

Civic Response

Municipal authorities and emergency personnel are going full steam in cutting down fallen trees, reestablishing electricity, and grappling with waterlogging. That said, the pre-monsoon downpour has laid bare major gaps in drainage and urban preparedness, calling for renewed demands for long-term infrastructure improvements.

 

Sources: Times Now News, Native Planet, Punekar News, Hindustan Times