Relentless Rain Causes Waterlogging at 90 Locations in Pune; Bhide Bridge Submerged
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 19th June 2025: Continuous heavy rainfall since Wednesday night has brought Pune to a standstill, with severe waterlogging reported at nearly 90 locations across the city. Areas like Kothrud, Sinhgad Road, Katraj-Kondhwa Road, and the city’s central zones bore the brunt of the downpour, with several streets submerged under knee-deep water.
As per reports, rainwater flowing down from nearby hills entered 10 to 15 houses in the Khadakwasla and Hingne areas. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)’s disaster management cell received an overwhelming number of complaints, prompting a swift on-ground response from civic teams to address water drainage issues.
Several key routes such as Sinhgad Road, Satara Road, Bibvewadi, Swargate, Bhandarkar Road, and Prabhat Road saw massive water accumulation, leading to traffic snarls during peak hours. Commuters, especially officegoers, faced immense inconvenience as waterlogged roads caused severe congestion and delays.
Rainfall began intensifying around 4 am on Thursday and continued through the afternoon, with intermittent heavy showers persisting till evening. Streets in core areas turned into temporary streams, forcing pedestrians and motorists to wade through waist-high water. Some vehicles stalled mid-way, with citizens seen pushing them through flooded streets.
In the Sinhgad Road vicinity, houses in Khadakwasla and Hingne were partially flooded. The municipal disaster team responded immediately, but fortunately, no evacuations were necessary.
City Roads Turn Into Streams
The incessant downpour left many roads resembling overflowing rivulets. Locals struggled to navigate the submerged streets, with several two-wheelers and cars stuck in water. Many citizens were forced to push their vehicles through the flooded stretches.
Disaster Cell Receives 90 Complaints
The PMC’s central disaster management cell, operational since two days, received 90 complaints on Thursday alone regarding water accumulation. In Yerwada Zone, areas like Dhanori Checkpost, Mhaske Vasti, Durga Chowk, Gunjan Chowk, and Gandhinagar reported significant waterlogging. Additional complaints were received from Seven Loves Chowk, Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk, BT Kawade Road, KK Market, Fatima Nagar, and nearby areas.
Rescue Team Deployed in Ekta Nagar
Remembering last year’s flooding after Khadakwasla Dam water release, PMC has pre-deployed a rescue team in Ekta Nagar this year. With dam discharge resuming, the area remains under watch.
Field Staff Facilitate Drainage
Responding quickly, PMC workers opened manhole covers to facilitate rainwater drainage in areas like Swargate Chowk, Paud Road, and Deccan. Their efforts helped ease the situation gradually in some locations.
Bhide Bridge Goes Underwater
With the Mula-Mutha river swelling due to consistent rainfall and dam discharge, water levels surged across riverbanks. On Thursday morning, 2,000 cusecs of water were released from Khadakwasla Dam, submerging Bhide Bridge. By 7 pm, the discharge was raised to 8,840 cusecs, prompting authorities to alert residents along the river to remain vigilant.
