Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad experienced a sudden deluge this afternoon, with parts of the city receiving a remarkable 114.5 millimeters of rainfall within just an hour.
The heavy downpour, accompanied by thunderstorms, led to significant flooding in several localities, including Pimpri, Chinchwad, Akurdi, Chikhali, and Moshi.
Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data has revealed that Shivajinagar area in Pune has recorded 243.9mm rain till date. This is the highest June rain recorded here in last 10 years. While Pune city and other parts of the district remained relatively dry on Sunday (June 23), Narayangaon received 34 mm of rainfall.
The cloudburst in Chinchwad, which occurred between 4 pm and 5.15 pm, resulted in extensive waterlogging across the city, disrupting normal life and submerging several areas. Residents faced difficulties as water entered many homes in low-lying areas, marking the first major rainfall event of the monsoon season. Roads were inundated, making travel challenging in some areas where drainage systems struggled to cope with the sudden volume of water.
According to IMD officials, the heavy rainfall was a result of intense localized convective activity, indicative of the monsoon's vigor in the region. Coastal Maharashtra has also observed heightened rainfall recently.
The official further elaborated that strengthening south-westerly winds suggest heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days for coastal Maharashtra and the hilly regions of Pune district. Models indicate significant rainfall expected in Konkan and Pune's ghat areas," IMD official said.
The Chinchwad cloudburst videos of rains and waterlogging on road went viral on social media. Several cars, autorickshaws and two-wheelers were seen stuck in the middle of the road surrounded by knee-deep water.
Municipal authorities have emphasized the need for proactive maintenance of drainage systems to mitigate such incidents in the future. They have assured residents that efforts are underway to clear waterlogged areas and ensure smooth traffic flow.