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Hoardings collapse, vehicles crushed as sudden storm batters Pune; Mumbai on alert

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A sudden spell of heavy rain and strong winds wreaked havoc in Pune on Tuesday afternoon, toppling hoardings, uprooting trees, and flooding several low-lying areas across the city.

The intense weather, part of a broader pre-monsoon disturbance, led to significant property damage but no reported injuries. Mumbai, too, is likely to be impacted by this unseasonal weather system over the next few days, with forecasts hinting at increased rainfall and gusty winds.

Around 3:30 pm, a large billboard collapsed at Sanaswadi Chowk along the Pune–Ahilyanagar road, crushing at least five vehicles parked nearby, according to police officials. In a separate incident, another hoarding came down in the Dhanori area under the impact of powerful winds.


Authorities confirmed to PTI that while the structures caused considerable damage to cars and surrounding infrastructure, no casualties were reported in either case.

Meanwhile, the city’s fire brigade responded to at least 15 cases of tree falls across key neighbourhoods, including Yerawada, Koregaon Park, Tingre Nagar, Erandwane, Hadapsar, and Fatima Nagar.

Traffic movement was disrupted in several areas as tree trunks and debris blocked roads, while rainwater quickly accumulated in low-lying zones, creating knee-deep water in some stretches.

Commuters were caught off guard by the sudden change in weather, with many taking shelter as gusts of wind swept across the city. Visibility dropped sharply during peak hours, and emergency teams were dispatched to manage the aftermath.


The India Meteorological Department has linked the abrupt storm to a developing weather system over the Arabian Sea. This system is likely to evolve into a low-pressure area by May 22, possibly intensifying and continuing to influence weather over western India, including Maharashtra.

Pune, along with other parts of the state, is expected to remain under the spell of unseasonal rainfall and thunderstorms for the next few days.
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