Pune experiences wettest day of season, intense showers till night

PUNE: Moderate to heavy rain lashed the city on Friday, making it the wettest day of the season this monsoon so far.
Shivajinagar recorded 77.2mm rainfall, while Pashan and Lohegaon recorded 63.4mm and 57mm rainfall, respectively, from 8.30am to 5pm on Friday. Anupam Kashyapi, head of IMD Pune’s weather department, said, “The Mumbai weather radar on Friday night showed clouding over Pune with strong westerlies approaching the city.” Hence, a few intense spells continued on Friday night as well, he said.

The city roads resembled rivers at several spots in Warje, Karvenagar and Mhatre bridge. Waterlogging on roads near Bhairoba nullah triggered congestion in Fatimanagar. Traffic slowed in other parts too. Discharge from Khadakwasla swelled the Mutha river and submerged the Bhide bridge. The situation was better at Ambil Odha compared to the September 25, 2019 deluge as PMC continued water discharge from the two Katraj lakes . At least “15-foot free level” would constantly be maintained at the lakes, an official said.
The Bhairoba nullah did overflow, but it did not flood the nearby homes. The local corporator, Nanda Lonkar, said, “We regularly cleaned the nullah. The boundary wall protecting societies was reconstructed.” Poornima Bhattari, a resident, said, “Our basement was waterlogged for two days during the 2019 floods. This time, there was no such issue.” The PMC had a plan to shift 300 families living along the riverbanks.
(With inputs from Prasad Kulkarni, Anjali Jhangiani & Piyush Bhusari)