Pune witnessed a night of intense rainfall on Sunday, accompanied by frequent flashes of lightning that residents described as “crackling” and unusually loud. Videos of the phenomenon circulated widely on social media, with many users expressing concern over the possibility of waterlogging and flood-like situations by Monday morning.
IMD Forecast and Alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed Pune under a red alert early Monday, valid until 7 a.m. Similar red alerts were also issued for Solapur and Ahmednagar districts, while Thane and Raigad were put under an orange alert. Other parts of Maharashtra, including Nashik, Palghar, Jalna, and Nagpur, remain on yellow alert.
Mumbai has been issued a yellow alert, with forecasts warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph in isolated areas.
The IMD has further predicted “heavy to very heavy” rainfall across northeastern states and Maharashtra over the coming days. Until September 18, scattered regions of Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha are expected to experience intermittent heavy showers. The weather bureau specifically warned of very heavy rainfall on September 14 and 15 in Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada.
Impact on Pune and Surrounding Areas
According to reports, three of the four major dams supplying water to Pune — Varasgaon, Panshet, and Temghar — received fresh rainfall in their catchment zones. Varasgaon recorded 21 mm of rainfall, Panshet 20 mm, and Temghar 3 mm. The cumulative storage in these reservoirs has now reached 29.09 TMC, which is nearly 998% of their designed capacity.
Residents Share Experiences
As the rain intensified late Sunday night, residents across the city captured dramatic lightning strikes on camera. Many described the sound and intensity as frightening, with one user commenting, “Captured this crazy and horrible lightning in Hadapsar. One of the heaviest rains of the season.” Another wondered if the sounds were “lightning or sonic booms,” saying they felt unusually powerful.
By Monday morning, reports of waterlogging began surfacing, with some residents sharing images of submerged vehicles in housing complexes.
With more rain forecast over the next few days, authorities have urged residents of Pune and neighboring districts to stay alert and exercise caution.