Orange alert as downpour raises water level in villages, causes 14 aircraft to divert from usual routesPune city and surrounding areas were lashed by heavy rain on Sunday night, accompanied by intense lightning and thunder, disrupting normal life and even flight operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the district, warning of more moderate to heavy showers in the coming hours.
At Pune airport, operations were severely hit between midnight and 8 am on September 15. Fourteen flights were diverted due to poor weather, while three eventually managed to return to Pune. The Indian Air Force extended support by permitting civil aircraft movements during military block time, as per the NOTAM.
Airport officials said teams from AAI, CISF, airlines, and other stakeholders worked through the night to ensure passenger comfort, arranging extra seating, food, tea, coffee, and drinking water. Flight operations have since returned to normal.
Continuous rain also triggered flooding in several parts of the Pune district. At 3 am on Monday, floodwaters entered Rupe Vasti in Theur village, Haveli taluka, trapping around 150 residents. A joint team from PMRDA Fire Brigade (Wagholi station) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rushed to the spot and rescued more than 70 villagers.
Catchment areas of Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon, and Temghar dams also recorded heavy rainfall, sharply raising water levels. The irrigation department increased discharge from Khadakwasla dam into the Mutha river from 10,611 cusecs to 14,547 cusecs at 10 am on Monday. Authorities have urged riverside residents to remain on alert.
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the compound wall of Madhur Angan Society at Ravet collapsed near Chandrabhaga Corner, behind Legacy Exotica Society. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, the Pune Fire Brigade responded to at least 10 incidents of tree falls across the city between Sunday evening and Monday morning.
With swollen rivers and waterlogging in several areas, the Pune administration has urged citizens to avoid going near rivers, streams, or nullahs. The next 24 hours are considered critical given the intensity of rainfall.
https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maharashtra-heavy-rain-lightning-disrupt-daily-life-and-flights-in-pune-23594215