Waterlogging Crisis in Kothrud: Residents Sit in Flooded Drain, Blame PMC Negligence

Kothrud, 3rd April 2026: Unseasonal heavy rainfall has triggered widespread disruption across Pune, with several areas reporting waterlogging, uprooted trees, and damage to property. The situation has once again drawn criticism from residents, who allege inadequate drainage management and poor planning by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

In Kothrud, residents claim that ongoing construction activity on a drainage channel has worsened flooding in the locality. According to locals, the drain was already overflowing due to continuous rainfall when work began to fill a portion of it to extend a road proposed under the city’s Development Plan (DP). The move has allegedly obstructed the natural flow of rainwater, leading to severe water accumulation in nearby streets and residential areas.

Angered by the situation, residents staged a protest led by local youth activist Rohit Marne. Demonstrators sat in the stagnant water near the drain, demanding that the civic administration take immediate steps to resolve the issue and restore proper drainage.

Marne alleged that blocking the Kothrud drain for road construction has directly contributed to flooding in the neighbourhood, affecting daily life and damaging property. He accused the civic body of ignoring the risks posed by interfering with existing drainage channels during the monsoon-like conditions currently being experienced.

“This reflects serious negligence. At a time when heavy rainfall is already causing problems across the city, obstructing a natural drainage route is putting residents in danger,” Marne said during the protest.

Images and videos from the site showed several protesters sitting in water that had accumulated around the drain, reflecting the frustration among locals over recurring flooding problems.

Residents say they have repeatedly raised concerns about drainage and water management in the area but claim that no effective measures have been taken so far. As of now, there has been no official response from the civic authorities regarding the protest or the allegations raised by residents.

The incident has once again highlighted ongoing concerns about drainage infrastructure in Pune, particularly in fast-growing neighbourhoods like Kothrud, where construction activities near natural water channels often intensify flooding during heavy rainfall.