Pune and surrounding regions are preparing for significant rainfall this weekend, with authorities issuing alerts to mitigate potential disruption. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Pune, Satara, and Kolhapur ghats under an Orange Alert for Saturday, warning of very heavy showers in isolated areas. The situation is expected to escalate on Sunday, when a Red Alert has been declared for Pune and Raigad ghats due to forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall.
IMD officials stated that a strong low-pressure system over the northwest and central Bay of Bengal, combined with the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the western Himalayas, is likely to trigger intense rainfall over western Maharashtra and coastal districts. The system is expected to affect daily life, transport networks, and water management in affected districts. Saturday’s weather in Pune is expected to be generally cloudy, with light to moderate showers accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Rainfall activity will intensify in the ghat sections by Sunday, potentially leading to waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and landslides in vulnerable areas. Experts emphasise that timely action by municipal authorities and commuters’ adherence to safety advisories will be crucial in mitigating risks.
Other districts across Maharashtra are also expected to receive significant rainfall. Thane, Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Nanded, Latur, and Dharashiv may witness heavy rains at scattered locations. Meanwhile, districts including Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Jalna have been placed under a Yellow Alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds. Vidarbha is forecast to experience similar weather over the next three days, requiring heightened vigilance. Officials from disaster management departments have urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel during peak rainfall, monitor weather updates regularly, and ensure safety measures such as securing loose objects, checking drainage, and avoiding travel on landslide-prone ghats. Urban planners note that such extreme weather events underscore the importance of sustainable urban water management, resilient infrastructure, and proactive climate-adaptive city planning.
While Pune’s weekend rainfall is expected to bring relief to parched areas, the intensity of the downpour also poses challenges to traffic, power supply, and emergency response systems. Authorities emphasise that preparedness, combined with citizen awareness, is key to reducing vulnerability and ensuring a safer urban environment during extreme weather episodes.
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