1,498 Citizens Evacuated as Floodwater Enters Low-Lying Areas of Pune
Pune, 20th August 2025: Continuous heavy rainfall over the last two days has led to flooding in several low-lying areas of Pune, forcing the evacuation of 1,498 citizens from 404 families. The situation worsened after 39,138 cusecs of water was released from the Khadakwasla Dam into the Mutha river on Wednesday morning.
Water entered residential areas along the river, including Sinhagad Road, Ekta Nagri, Yerawada’s Shantinagar, Rajput Slum in Erandwane, Tapodham, Adarsh Nagar in Bopodi, Nagzari Nala in Mangalwar Peth, Patil Estate, and Tadiwala Road. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had issued advance warnings to citizens and immediately carried out evacuation operations.
Rescue and Relief Operations
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram inspected Ekta Nagari late Tuesday night, while Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P. visited Rajput Slum on Wednesday morning to oversee relief efforts. Teams from PMC’s disaster management cell, fire brigade, PMRDA, and regional offices were deployed across the affected areas.
Evacuated residents have been temporarily shifted to nearby municipal schools where arrangements for food and shelter have been made.
According to PMC, key relief measures include:
172 citizens moved to Nanasaheb Parulekar School, Shantinagar
243 to V.G. Ghate School, Phulenagar
109 to Anusayabai Khilare School, Rajput Slum
205 children to Tapodham Municipal School
277 from Patil Estate to Ambedkar School, Wakdewadi
259 to School No. 47, NT Wadi
170 to Shantabai Dhole Patil School and Mahatma Phule School, Dhole Patil Road
52 to Rajendra Prasad School, Bopodi Adarsh Nagar
87 to relief shelters in Kasba Vishrambagwada
Additionally, 35 residents of Ekta Nagari chose to stay with relatives.
Traffic Disruptions
As a precaution, several key roads and bridges have been closed due to rising water levels. These include Jayantrao Tilak Bridge, Shivne Road, Nanded City Road, Riverside Road, and Bhide Bridge. The municipal administration has appealed to citizens to use alternative routes.
Relief Centers and Control Measures
The PMC has set up 71 relief centers across the city, with disaster management teams deployed at each location. The central disaster management control room is operating round-the-clock. A junior engineer from PMC has been stationed in the Irrigation Department’s control room to coordinate dam water release. Meanwhile, Army officers have been stationed in PMC control room for coordination.
Officials from the police wireless system, fire department, road and sewerage departments, and disaster management units are also on duty.
