09 July,2026 01:56 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
Many residents argued that rapid urbanisation has outpaced the development of essential infrastructure. Representational Pic
Three days of relentless monsoon rain have exposed major shortcomings in civic infrastructure across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, with flooded roads, prolonged power outages, fallen trees, traffic disruptions and landslides bringing normal life to a standstill.
Residents across the twin cities alleged that inadequate drainage systems, unchecked concretisation and poor urban planning have worsened the impact of the rains, preventing water from draining naturally and increasing the risk of flooding.
Several low-lying roads, bridges and riverbed routes were submerged following continuous rainfall, forcing authorities to restrict movement in vulnerable areas.
Major highways and internal roads witnessed severe waterlogging, leading to traffic snarls and delays across the city. Schools in some localities remained closed, while commuters struggled to navigate flooded stretches.
Adding to the disruption, thousands of residents in Ravet and Nigdi Pradhikaran have been without electricity for nearly three days.
The prolonged outages left elevators non-functional in residential buildings, forcing senior citizens, children and patients to climb multiple flights of stairs. Water supply was also affected as electric pumps stopped functioning.
Residents said they were forced to purchase drinking water and use their vehicles to charge mobile phones and batteries during the blackout.
The situation triggered protests outside the office of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on July 8, with residents demanding immediate restoration of power.
According to MSEDCL officials, the disruption was caused after a high-tension conductor snapped while crossing the Pavana River near Sant Tukaram Maharaj Bridge.
The utility said restoration work has been delayed because the damaged conductor fell into the swollen riverbed, making repair operations challenging amid ongoing rains.
Many residents argued that rapid urbanisation has outpaced the development of essential infrastructure.
They claimed that elevated roads, flyovers and ramps have obstructed the natural flow of rainwater, while blocked stormwater drains, shrinking open spaces and indiscriminate tree cutting have further aggravated flooding across the city.
A resident from the Nigdi-Akurdi area told mid-day, "The recently constructed footpaths in Nigdi and Akurdi Pradhikaran have contributed to waterlogging on roads. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) failed to properly plan the project."
Pallavi Jani, a resident, said the prolonged power cuts disrupted both work and essential household activities.
"The power cuts made working from home nearly impossible. We had to buy drinking water and even charge our batteries in the car just to stay connected," she said.
Another resident, Sanjay Joshi, said electricity supply had remained unreliable for days.
"Power was available only intermittently. The situation has been extremely difficult for residents," he said.
Social activist Anil Roy said the scale of disruption points to deeper issues in urban development and infrastructure planning.
"The city once handled heavy monsoon showers without major disruption. Earlier, rainwater naturally flowed through streams into drains and rivers. Today, poor engineering, concrete roads, blocked drains, plastic waste and unchecked development have turned roads into rivers. The problem is not only the rain; it is also poor planning," Roy said.
With more rain forecast in the coming days, residents and experts have renewed calls for long-term improvements to drainage infrastructure, urban planning and disaster preparedness to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
