Pune: Rain Havoc in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Flooded Roads, Clogged Infrastructure Expose PCMC’s Poor Monsoon Preparedness

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 26th May 2025: Torrential rain lashed Pimpri-Chinchwad throughout Monday, submerging roads, flooding underpasses, and bringing daily life to a standstill, once again exposing the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) glaring failure in monsoon preparedness.

Severe waterlogging was reported across low-lying areas, including the busy underpasses at Chinchwad and Akurdi, which had to be shut due to dangerous water accumulation. Several roads, particularly in Nigdi, Moshi, Sant Tukaram Nagar, Chikhali, and Sangvi Phata, resembled lakes. In Sangvi, water even entered homes, while motorists struggled to navigate the submerged roads.

The chaos extended to the old Pune-Mumbai Highway, where ongoing Metro and Urban Street projects have left large excavations open. These have exacerbated the flooding, especially between Tilak Chowk and the Bajaj Auto Gate in Nigdi. Craters and potholes along these stretches made driving perilous, bringing traffic to a crawl and causing gridlocks across several areas.

Floodwater remained stagnant for hours in multiple underpasses, rendering several routes impassable. In Sangvi Phata, flooding forced temporary road closures, severely affecting commuters heading to Pimple Saudagar, Pimple Gurav, and Navi Sangvi.

A tree fall was reported in Ganga Nagar, Akurdi, while other areas such as Sant Tukaram Nagar and Vallabh Nagar witnessed roads submerged under several inches of water.

Despite recurring failures, PCMC officials continue to blame “short-duration heavy rainfall.” However, residents find this excuse unacceptable, as the region has been experiencing rain for over two weeks — and the administration’s lack of preparedness is now drawing widespread criticism.

Disaster Management Officer Omprakash Bahival stated, “A lot of rainfall occurred in a short span of time, which is why drainage is taking longer. We received complaints from various parts of the city and took action on a war footing.”

Yogita Nerekar, a long-time resident of Pimpri-Chinchwad, told Punekar News, “As far as development goes, the headache only grows for us. Earlier, we didn’t expect much, but now we do, especially with the hefty taxes the government demands. Basic things like rainwater management and traffic control are still just a dream for us, despite living in what’s supposed to be a ‘developed city.’”