Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Maharashtra. Heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds lashed Pune on Saturday and Sunday, causing more than 100 trees to fall across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, injuring one person. Traffic was disrupted, and people were barred from accessing hill forts and forested areas.
A man suffered serious spinal injuries after a large tree fell on him in Pimple Saudagar on Saturday morning. The incident occurred near the Saudagar Hotel on Kunal Icon Road when a large tree fell on the roadside following heavy rain. The victim, identified as SN Gudale, was rescued by police, fire brigade, and civic officials and taken to Jeevan Jyoti Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
More Than 100 Trees Fell
According to civic officials, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) received 29 complaints of fallen trees on Saturday, while the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation reported 27. More than 100 tree-felling incidents were reported in the Pune area, including those handled by the fire service and local authorities, reflecting the impact of the intense monsoon.
Fire brigade teams spent the entire day clearing uprooted trees, broken branches, and blocked roads. In Wakdewadi, a fallen tree completely blocked the Mumbai-Pune Road near Spoorti Society, prompting emergency teams to remove it using chainsaws and heavy machinery.
People Accuse Authorities of Delayed Preventive Action
Residents alleged that officials act promptly only after a tree falls but fail to identify vulnerable trees or protect their roots during infrastructure work before the monsoon.
Civil engineer Sarang Joshi said indiscriminate cutting of tree roots during footpath construction, cable laying and road excavation weakens trees over time. He also cited unscientific pruning methods as a major reason behind the frequent tree falls during heavy rain and strong winds.
Residents have demanded scientific structural audits of roadside trees, strict monitoring of excavation work around tree roots and professional pruning before the onset of every monsoon.
Forest Department Issues Monsoon Tourism Advisory
In view of the continuous heavy rains, the Pune Forest Department has appealed to tourists to strictly follow safety guidelines while visiting forts, waterfalls and forest areas including Rajgad, Sinhagad and Lonavala areas.
The department has warned that continuous rain has increased the risk of landslides, falling stones, falling branches and sudden rise in water levels in rivers, streams and seasonal small rivers.
Tourists Advised to Avoid Fast-Flowing Water
Authorities have advised tourists to avoid areas with fast-flowing water, avoid landslides and slippery areas, avoid selfie-prone zones or cliff edges, and avoid travelling during heavy rain, dense fog or thunderstorms.
The Forest Department said necessary directives have already been issued to regulate tourism activities in forest areas. Tourist movement has been restricted in vulnerable locations, while entry has been prohibited in areas considered too dangerous for public safety.
All Range Forest Officers have been directed to conduct field inspections and take location-specific decisions based on prevailing weather conditions and safety assessments.
The department has also advised citizens to immediately contact the toll-free emergency helpline 1926in case of accidents, missing persons, forest fires, wildlife-related incidents or any other emergency in forest areas.
Pavana Dam Storage Increases
The last two days have been very busy for the monsoon across the city of Pune. The highest rainfall in 48 hours was reported from Junnar's Neemgiri - 121.5 mm. Some of the other spots included Chinchwad (77 mm), Malin (63.5 mm), Bhor (55.5 mm), Dapodi (43.5 mm), Rajgurunagar (42.5 mm), NDA (40 mm), Dudulgaon (39 mm), Narayangaon (36 mm), Pashan (33.4 mm) and Shivajinagar (30.7 mm).
The ongoing rainfall in catchment areas of the city will also boost the water stocks of dams, which now see improved live storage levels of Pavana Dam to 23.9 per cent, giving relief to farmers in Pimpri-Chinchwad city and Maval.
Officials said no water is released from Pavana Dam yet. Separately, a landslide on a side road that runs toward Lonavala near Katal Falls, beyond Rajmachi Fort, occurred Friday and has been cleared using earth-moving machinery, with the roadway now being opened for vehicular movement, an official confirmed. They added that with heavy rainfall predicted to continue in the coming days, motorists should proceed with caution in the ghats.