Pune's Wadgaonsheri Area Records 114.5 mm Rainfall in 90 Minutes

Pune witnessed heavy rainfall on Tuesday, causing flash floods in several areas as the monsoon clouds covered the region. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Wadgaonsheri area recorded 114.5 mm of rainfall within one and a half hours, between 11:30 am and 1 pm.

The intense downpour in Wadgaonsheri resulted in flash floods, inundating low-lying areas and causing waterlogged roads and traffic disruptions. Dhanori, Vishrantwadi, Lohegaon, and Sinhagad Road were the worst affected, with frequent power interruptions reported citywide.

Man flows with #scooty through #floodwaters in Padmavati area on #Pune-Satara Road.#Pune #PuneRain #Waterlogging #Pmc @PMCPune pic.twitter.com/7FWQpy3zlH

— Punekar News (@punekarnews) June 4, 2024

Anupam Kashyapi, the former head of the weather and forecasting division at IMD Pune, attributed the heavy rainfall to a massive moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea due to the approaching monsoon currents. He explained, "High temperatures triggered the formation of cumulonimbus cells or cloud development over Pune and adjoining areas, causing widespread high-value rainfall in the city."

The intense rainfall was close to a cloudburst, but Kashyapi clarified it didn't fit that category. "A cloudburst is more than 100 mm of rainfall in an hour," he said. "Here, the localised rainfall was due to a cloud cell near Lohegaon, moving and causing intense rainfall in these areas."

The heavy rainfall caused overflowing drains and flooding in residential areas. Residents shared videos of forceful water streams on social media, including one showing a scooter being swept away.

Other areas of Pune also experienced significant rainfall, with Koregaon Park reporting 80 mm and Shivajinagar recording 68.3 mm, providing relief from the scorching heat.

Kashyapi noted that these signs favor the rapid arrival of the monsoon in Maharashtra. "The monsoon has advanced into Karnataka, and conditions are favorable for its movement towards peninsular India," he said.