The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in the Pune district, advising people to take necessary precautions for their safety.
In response to the flooding, the Pune Fire Department has mobilized inflatable rubber boats to rescue residents whose homes have been inundated by rainwater. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that the Indian Air Force and Army are ready for flood relief operations in Pune and surrounding areas.
Tragically, three individuals lost their lives due to electrocution in water at Pulachi Wadi in the Deccan Gymkhana area, while another person died in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Adharwadi village of Maval tehsil. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges across most parts of Pune have been closed following the IMD’s warning of heavy rainfall.
Since Wednesday night, various areas in Pune district, including Mulshi, Velha, and Bhor talukas, as well as the catchment areas of dams like Khadakwasla, have been experiencing continuous rainfall. To manage the flooding, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local disaster management cells have been deployed in low-lying areas prone to inundation, as confirmed by Pune district collector Suhas Diwase to PTI.
Diwase has also ordered the closure of all tourist spots in the district for the next 48 hours, and traffic movement on bridges has been restricted due to the risk of submersion. In Malavli near the Lonavala hill station, 29 tourists were stranded at resorts due to flooding. They were successfully evacuated on Wednesday evening with the assistance of local police. Deputy Chief Minister and Pune Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has shown personal interest in the situation, directing district authorities and civic administrations to provide necessary assistance to affected citizens. Meanwhile, Mumbai also experienced heavy rainfall on Thursday, with IMD predicting moderate to intense showers accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50-60 kmph.
