Heavy rainfall pounded a city in western India’s Maharashtra, recording 114.5 mm in a little over an hour, leading to widespread waterlogging and significant disruptions.

The incident took place at Chinchwad Spine Road in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune District on June 23. 

Visuals showed that due to heavy, intense, and continuous rain, water had accumulated to significant heights on the busy road, causing considerable difficulty for vehicles to move through.

In a remarkable display of monsoon strength, the industrial city of Pimpri-Chinchwad was drenched by 114.5 mm of rainfall in just over an hour, from 4 pm to 5:15 pm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials attributed the downpour to intense localized convective activity, indicative of a strengthening monsoon in the region.

Medha Khole, Scientist (F) at IMD Pune, explained that the south-westerly winds are gaining strength, leading to significant rainfall across coastal Maharashtra and the hilly areas of Pune district. “Coastal areas like Konkan and ghat areas of Pune district will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall as per the models,” she said. The recent downpour in Pimpri-Chinchwad underscores the trend of increasing rainfall in the area.

Interestingly, Pune district, including Pune city, did not experience significant rainfall, with Narayangaon being an exception, recording 34 mm. This sharp contrast highlights the localized nature of the convective activity that targeted Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The heavy rain resulted in widespread waterlogging, causing significant disruptions. Among the worst affected areas were Bhatnagar, Milind Nagar, and Anand Nagar, where roads were flooded, forcing motorists to abandon their vehicles and wait for the water to recede.

Residents are advised to stay updated with weather forecasts and take necessary precautions as heavy rainfall is expected to continue in the region over the next few days.