Pune Submerged as Stormwater System Fails During Intense Rainfall
Choked stormwater channels and drainage chambers turned Pune's roads into shallow ponds within an hour of intense rainfall on Thursday afternoon, laying bare the Pune Municipal Corporation's glaring lack of preparedness. Activists and residents squarely blamed the waterlogging on construction debris and garbage dumped along roadsides, which were swept straight into stormwater and drainage lines, blocking the flow and worsening waterlogging across large parts of the city.
Widespread Chaos and Complaints
The situation turned so dire that the PMC's disaster management cell was inundated with over 180 waterlogging complaints. Across the city, citizens found themselves trudging through knee-deep water, struggling to make their way home. Traffic slowed to a crawl at critical junctions like the CoEP flyover, JM Road, and parts of the old Mumbai-Pune road.
The road leading towards Sangamwadi was completely submerged, while similar scenes unfolded in Bavdhan, Warje Malwadi, and along the service roads of Katraj-Dehu Road Bypass. Kushal Pradhan, who was on his way to his workplace, shared his ordeal: "The autorickshaw driver, after driving for a while, said he wouldn't go further as it was risky. While on the way back, his autorickshaw stopped at the start of the Lullanagar flyover. We got stuck for 20-25 minutes and got drenched."
Activists Blame Incomplete Works and Debris
Activist Sandeep Khardekar from Karvenagar said incomplete drainage works were a major reason behind the chaos. "Drainage line works remain unfinished everywhere. The administration is simply failing to fast-track these projects," he emphasized. Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch added that the city had no coherent plan to deal with mounting construction waste.
"In heavy downpours, all the debris dumped on roadsides inevitably flows into stormwater channels, which are meant only for rainwater. Pre-monsoon cleaning works must undergo third-party inspection, and responsibility must be fixed," Velankar insisted. Another activist, Viram Gaikwad, highlighted the need for urgent planning due to increasing frequency of intense rainfall spells. "PMC must assess whether its stormwater channels are even capable of handling such heavy rains and flash floods anymore," he urged.
Residents Question Maintenance Practices
Residents echoed similar sentiments, questioning PMC's maintenance works. Anil Kadam of Shivajinagar pointed out, "Why are stormwater drains cleaned only ahead of the monsoon? This should be a year-round exercise. Many drainage chambers are packed with waste, silt, and debris."
PMC Officials Cite Rainfall Intensity and Response
PMC officials attributed the flash flooding to the high intensity of rainfall, saying response teams were deployed swiftly and that waterlogging at several locations was cleared within an hour after the rain stopped. Additional municipal commissioner Omprakash Divte noted that many areas recorded over 50mm of rainfall within an hour, leading to widespread waterlogging.
"Pre-monsoon works are still in the initial stages. Cleaning has begun in some areas, and work in the remaining parts will start by next week. We will take corrective measures at all locations that experienced waterlogging," Divte assured. According to PMC, existing stormwater channels are designed to handle 50-60mm of rainfall, while newly merged areas are being planned with systems capable of managing rainfall up to 120mm.
Transportation Woes and Policy Considerations
At Pune airport, flyers faced major issues getting cabs and pre-paid autorickshaws. Prakash Rajguru, an autorickshaw driver, explained, "No autorickshaw was available at the airport as all are stuck in traffic in different places because of the rain." Sources at AeroMall said cab movements were minimal for the same reason.
Cabs and autorickshaws were unavailable in different parts of the city too. Mansoor Shaikh, who had to go to Camp from Famitanagar, said he tried booking cabs and autorickshaws via all apps for 45 minutes in the evening, but none accepted rides. "The regular autorickshaws are not agreeing to go to far-off places," he lamented.
PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram revealed that the administration was considering reducing concreting of smaller roads. "A new policy on road concreting is being drafted and will soon be communicated to ward offices overseeing such works," he stated, indicating potential long-term measures to mitigate future flooding risks.
