Heavy Rain Floods Pune Roads; PMC Drain Failures Leave Commuters Stranded
Pune, 19th September 2025: Heavy rains on Thursday evening once again exposed the failure of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to ensure clear monsoon channels, causing widespread waterlogging across the city.
Starting around 5 pm, heavy downpours transformed roads in central Pune and multiple suburbs—including Peth areas, Shivajinagar, Khadki, Dapodi, Ganeshkhind Road, Aundh, Baner, Bavdhan, Kothrud, Sinhagad Road, Narhe, Karvenagar, Warje-Malwadi, Dhankawadi, Katraj, Bibwewadi, Kondhwa, Hadapsar, Yerawada, Vishrantwadi, Vadgaon Sheri, Kalyaninagar, Vimannagar, Lohgaon and Mundhwa—into temporary streams.
Pedestrians struggled through knee-deep water, while two-wheeler and car drivers faced stalled vehicles as water entered engine compartments.
Earlier this year, PMC had claimed to have cleared silt from the city’s drains, streams, and monsoon channels in May. However, the removed silt was left around the drain openings. Recent rains, including those two days ago, had already caused water to accumulate on many roads, and Thursday’s heavy showers worsened the situation. Garbage, mud, and leftover silt blocked water flow at chamber lids and on road dividers, resulting in slow drainage.
Local residents, traffic police, and municipal staff attempted to clear debris and divert rainwater in several areas. Despite these efforts, many roads remained waterlogged, creating major inconveniences for office-goers, school and college students, and commuters. Social media was flooded with photos and videos of the waterlogged streets, as citizens documented the situation on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter).
CCTV footage from PMC’s Disaster Management Center painted a mixed picture. While many intersections showed smooth traffic flow despite the rain, some areas clearly suffered from water accumulation due to blocked drains and insufficient drainage infrastructure.
This recurring problem highlights ongoing concerns over the city’s drainage system and the need for better silt management and maintenance of monsoon channels to prevent such disruptions in the future.
