Torrential rains trigger flooding in western India, reaching levels comparable to cloudburst
by ShravyaSeveral parts of western India’s Maharashtra experienced an intense spell of rain, with the Wadgaonsheri area receiving 120.5 mm (about 4.7 inches) of rainfall, most of it occurring between 11 am and 2 pm.
The incident took place in Pune district on June 4.
Visuals showed people struggling to travel in knee high waters due the rain, two wheelers getting completely submerged and cars half way down there.
According to the reports this heavy downpour, close to cloudburst levels, resulted in flash floods in the Dhanori, Lohegaon, and Kalyani Nagar areas. Anupam Kashyapi, a former weather forecasting expert at the India Meteorological Department, clarified that while the rain was extremely heavy, it did not technically qualify as a cloudburst, which requires over 100 mm of rainfall in an hour. He explained that the localized rainfall was due to a cloud cell forming near Lohegaon and moving through these areas, causing the intense rain.
The flooding overwhelmed rainwater drains, leading to flood water entering homes. Koregaon Park reported 80 mm of rain, while Shivajinagar saw 68.3 mm. Social media was flooded with videos showing water flowing with great force, including one video of a scooter being swept away with its rider.
Most areas in Pune reported significant rainfall, bringing much-needed relief from the heat. This type of pre-monsoon rain is typical for the season, usually starting in the evening and lasting for a short duration.
Kashyapi noted that these weather patterns are a good sign for the early arrival of the monsoon in Maharashtra. The monsoon has already advanced in Karnataka, and conditions are favorable for its continued progress toward southern India.