Pune: A sudden burst of intense pre-monsoon rainfall on Tuesday wreaked havoc across Pune, recording 18.7 mm of rain in Shivajinagar alone within an hour. The heavy showers, which continued through the afternoon, caused widespread waterlogging, power outages, and major traffic congestion, once again spotlighting the city’s inadequate drainage and infrastructure readiness.
According to rainfall data recorded at 03 UTC on May 14, 2025, Lavale received the highest rainfall at 48.5 mm, followed by Rajgurunagar (34.5 mm), Dudulgaon (22.5 mm), and Shivajinagar (18.7 mm). Other affected areas included Pashan (17.1 mm), Bhor (14.5 mm), and NDA (8.0 mm), with lower but still notable rainfall in places like Chinchwad, Lonavala, Hadapsar, and Koregaon Park.
The newly opened Sinhagad Road flyover drew sharp public criticism after water was seen gushing down its surface, raising concerns over flawed water management in its construction. Social media platforms were flooded with images and videos of flooded roads and overflowing drains, particularly from localities such as Undri, NIBM Road, Katraj, Kothrud, Baner, Bavdhan, and Central Pune. In areas like Pashan-Sus, incomplete roadwork added to the chaos, severely affecting peak-hour commutes.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the heavy rain to a trough extending from Vidarbha to South Karnataka, intensified by moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea. While the IMD predicts a drop in rainfall intensity from Wednesday, light rain, strong winds, lightning, and thunderstorms are likely to persist until Saturday.
Several neighbourhoods also reported power disruptions due to the downpour. The civic administration’s preparedness—or lack thereof—has come under scrutiny, with many questioning the delay in completing pre-monsoon maintenance work and the city’s capacity to handle even short bursts of rain ahead of the full monsoon season.
