Pune, 31st July 2026: Steady rainfall over the past few days has significantly raised water levels in the Khadakwasla dam chain, prompting the Irrigation Department to increase the discharge from Khadakwasla Dam to 16,247 cusecs into the Mutha River from 10.30 am on Friday, July 31.
Officials said the decision was taken due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas and the rapid rise in reservoir storage. Residents living along the river and in low-lying areas have been advised to stay alert as the increased discharge is expected to submerge Bhide Bridge once again and close roads passing through the riverbed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the ghat areas of Pune district and Nashik on July 31, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.
The alert does not cover Pune or Pimpri-Chinchwad city. For August 1, the weather department has issued a yellow alert for Pune's ghat regions, indicating that rainfall intensity is likely to reduce.
After remaining largely dry for the last week, consistent monsoon showers have returned to Pune. The Shivajinagar weather observatory recorded 15.1 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending Friday morning.
The fresh spell of rain has also brought relief from warm and humid weather. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 27.4°C and a minimum of 22.7°C, making conditions noticeably cooler.
Notably, Pune has already surpassed its all-time July rainfall record, making this one of the wettest Julys in the city's recorded history.
Although Pune city is not under any weather warning, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rain with cloudy skies over the weekend and during the first half of next week.
With almost all reservoirs in the Khadakwasla dam chain now full or close to full, authorities are closely monitoring inflows and regulating releases to maintain reservoir safety while ensuring adequate water storage for the city.