Heavy Rains Lash Maharashtra: Flooding in IT Park Hinjawadi, Red Alert Issued for Mumbai
After a brief pause following the onset of monsoon, heavy rains have returned with intensity across Maharashtra, bringing several cities to a standstill. Over the past four days, downpours have intensified in Mumbai, Pune, and adjoining areas, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Mumbai.
Torrential Rain Causes Waterlogging Across Cities
Since the early hours of June 7, Mumbai, Pune, and surrounding regions have been experiencing persistent rainfall. The skies remain overcast in Marathwada and Vidarbha, with light to moderate rain reported in Thane and Raigad districts. Heavy showers have also been recorded in parts of Konkan and Nashik. In Pune’s Hinjewadi Phase 2, a key hub for IT companies, flooding near Ryan International School caused chaos, with knee-deep water inundating roads within minutes. The area, often referred to as Pune’s tech corridor, was humorously likened by locals to a “Water Park” due to the extent of waterlogging.
Poor Drainage Sparks Concerns
The incident has once again highlighted poor drainage infrastructure in Hinjawadi, with citizens expressing frustration over the lack of timely monsoon preparedness. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule raised the issue on social media, urging MIDC authorities to take immediate and long-term corrective measures to address the drainage crisis. “Despite being a high-tech zone, the failure to carry out pre-monsoon drain cleaning is unacceptable. The authorities must act now,” Sule stated in her post. Flooding was also reported on the Shantinagar to Indrayani Corner road in Bhosari MIDC, adding to the woes of residents and commuters in the industrial belt.
Forecast: Rain, Wind, and More to Come
According to K.S. Hosalikar, Pune Division Head of the IMD, the weather department has predicted heavy rainfall with gusty winds in several areas including Baramati, Daund, Indapur (Pune district), Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad. Satellite observations at 9 a.m. on Friday revealed increasing cloud intensity over Pune, Solapur, Sangli, and Satara, with rainfall expected to continue over the next few hours.
Weather Alerts Across Maharashtra
The IMD has issued yellow alerts for a number of districts across Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, and Marathwada, warning of possible waterlogging in low-lying areas. The alert includes:
Konkan: Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri
Madhya Maharashtra: Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar
Vidarbha: Nagpur, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana
Marathwada: Beed, Latur, Nanded
Authorities have urged citizens to stay alert, avoid waterlogged routes, and follow official updates as the monsoon strengthens across the state.