Pune: City witnessed its hottest day of the year on Wednesday, as Lohegaon sizzled at 43.6°C, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a yellow alert for Thursday. The alert warns of persistently high temperatures across the region.
Lohegaon has remained the hottest area in Pune over the past few weeks, with mercury levels consistently breaching 40°C. Shivajinagar wasn’t far behind, recording 41.2°C—about 3°C higher than the average for this time of year.
According to IMD Pune scientist SD Sanap, an anti-cyclonic system over central India and Maharashtra is causing dry weather by blocking moisture inflow. This, he explained, has led to soaring daytime temperatures. The IMD also confirmed that no rainfall is expected over the next five days due to stable, dry atmospheric conditions.
Other parts of Pune also faced severe heat: Koregaon Park recorded 41.7°C, Wadgaonsheri and Pashan hit 40.8°C, while Hadapsar and Chinchwad reached 40.7°C, and Magarpatta logged 40.4°C. The scorching heat made commuting particularly harsh, with many two-wheeler riders taking refuge under trees or at refreshment stalls.
Elsewhere in Maharashtra, Marathwada was gripped by similar heatwave conditions. Every monitored location in the region crossed the 40°C mark, with Parbhani registering the highest temperature at 44.1°C.
The situation was more severe in Vidarbha, where all ten weather stations recorded temperatures above 40°C. Bramhapuri stood out with a sweltering 45.6°C, exceeding the norm by 4.1°C. Chandrapur (45.5°C), Akola (45°C), Wardha (44.7°C), Amravati (44.6°C), and Nagpur (44.4°C) were also among the worst-hit cities.
With no respite in sight, the IMD has advised people to avoid outdoor activities during the peak afternoon hours and to stay hydrated to prevent heat-related illnesses.
