Pune witnessed a sudden burst of heavy rainfall on Saturday (October 19), bringing much-needed relief from the scorching October heat but causing significant disruptions for those out shopping for Diwali.

The rain, accompanied by thunder, lasted for around 15 minutes, primarily affecting central parts of the city. The highest rainfall was recorded in Shivajinagar, where 20 mm of rain fell within a short span of time.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast similar weather conditions for the next two days, predicting sunny mornings followed by light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Though the southwest monsoon has officially withdrawn from Maharashtra, Pune and its surrounding regions have been experiencing fluctuating weather for the past few days.

Mornings and afternoons have been hot, with light showers in the evening. On Saturday morning, some areas saw fog, and the heat intensified after 10 a.m., with the city experiencing maximum temperatures of 36.1°C in Koregaon Park, 35.7°C in Hadapsar, and 34.8°C in Magarpatta.

Despite the heat, by 3 p.m., dark clouds gathered, and heavy rain followed in several areas including Shivajinagar, Narayan Peth, Tilak Road, Swargate, and Shaniwarwada.

The sudden downpour caused waterlogging in several parts of the city, and shoppers who had crowded the markets for Diwali preparations were caught off guard. Traffic jams were reported on major roads as a result of the rain.

Along with the city, surrounding areas also received rainfall today, with Malin recording 23 mm, Shivajinagar 20 mm, Talegaon 15 mm, Koregaon Park 10 mm, Bhor 8 mm, Chinchwad 6 mm, and Wadgaon Sheri and Magarpatta each recording 2 mm.