Monsoon Havoc in Maharashtra: Pune Floods Claim 4 Lives; Army, Air Force on Alert, Mumbai Braces for Heavy Rain

At least 4 people lost their lives in the heavy downpour in Pune on Thursday. Overnight rain led to severe waterlogging in multiple areas of Pune and Kolhapur, severely disrupting normal life. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red Alert for Pune, prompting District Collector Suhas Diwase to order school closures and advise residents to stay indoors.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mobilized the Indian Air Force and Army for flood relief operations in Pune, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar directed heightened vigilance from the District Administration. Tourist spots were closed, and traffic on at-risk bridges was halted, with NDRF teams deployed for rescue operations in Ekta Nagar, Sinhgad Road, and Varje.

Three of the fatalities in Pune were due to electrocution in water at Pulachi Wadi, Deccan Gymkhana, with another casualty from a rainfall-triggered landslide in Adarwadi village, Maval tehsil. Khadakwasla Dam neared full capacity, prompting alerts along the Mutha riverbank, where the Baba Bhide bridge submerged as waters rose.

IMD forecasts predicted extremely heavy rainfall in isolated Pune areas and moderate rainfall across plains till Friday, with Pune having recorded 567.2mm rainfall from June 1 to July 24.

In Mumbai, heavy rainfall persisted with a yellow alert issued by IMD for heavy to very heavy rainfall till Friday. Dombivali witnessed flooding, and the Andheri subway was closed due to waterlogging. The overflowing Vihar lake, a crucial water source, disrupted operations, compounded by poor visibility affecting flights, as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.​