Unseasonal Rain Dampens Diwali Shopping Spirit In Pune, Light Rain Predicted On Saturday
Pune, 10th November 2023: The festive cheer turned into chaos as unseasonal rain wreaked havoc on citizens who ventured out for Diwali shopping on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras. Heavy rainfall flooded several roads, leading to disrupted traffic and panic among shoppers.
Streams and rivers started flowing in various areas, causing concerns among residents, particularly in Hadapsar, Pashan, Koregaon Park, and Chinchwad. The unexpected downpour extended to some taluks in the district, adding to the overall disruption.
The city experienced dense fog since Friday morning, with no sight of the sun until the afternoon. The cloudy weather caused a rise in temperature, making the afternoon uncomfortably hot. As evening approached, light to moderate rain accompanied by thundershowers added to the unexpected weather conditions.
Despite the adverse weather, citizens flocked to markets to make Diwali purchases, including gold, silver, books, and kitchenware. The sudden rains caught everyone off guard, leading to panic and financial losses for the shoppers.
Several areas, including Dhayari, Sinhagad Road, and Vadgaon, witnessed waterlogging on main roads, significantly disrupting traffic flow. Heavy rains persisted in Shivaji Nagar, Savitribai Phule Pune University campus, Baner Road, Lohegaon and Aundh.
According to IMD, Mohammadwadi area recorded the highest rainfall at 70.5 mm from 5 pm to 9 pm, while Magarpatta experienced the lowest at 10.5 mm. On average, the city recorded 27 millimeters of rain. Suburban areas faced prolonged disruptions in traffic due to standing water on roads, with the rain subsiding in most places after 9:30 pm.
Incident of Wall Collapse in Balaji Nagar
A distressing incident occurred near Ram Mandir in Balaji Nagar, where the boundary wall of Sadguru Society collapsed due to heavy rain, damaging a four-wheeler. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the fire brigade promptly responded to the scene.
Weather Outlook: Clearing Skies Expected
Meteorologists predict that the cloudy weather across the Maharashtra state, including Pune, is likely to clear after Saturday (11 am). Cyclonic wind conditions may lead to the formation of a low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in the coming period. However, there is no indication of rain in Maharashtra in November, and experts anticipate a gradual onset of colder weather in the state.
Rainfall Figures (in millimeters, till 8:30 pm) by weather stations:
- Hadapsar : 70.5
- Pashan: 45
- Koregaon Park: 44
- Vadgaonsheri: 38.5
- Talegaon: 36
- Chinchwad and Rajgurunagar: 32
- Shivajinagar: 27.5
- Lavale: 19.5
- NDA: 15.5
- Lohegaon: 15
- Dapodi: 12
