Pune, 24 April 2026: Punekars woke up to a major inconvenience on Friday morning as the Pune municipal corporation (PMC) failed to restore water supply on time. Despite a planned shutdown on Thursday for maintenance, taps across several parts of the city remained dry, sparking frustration among citizens.
The civic body had undertaken repair works at around 30 locations, including critical work on dam sources and transmission lines. However, poor planning and unexpected delays meant the system could not be restarted as scheduled, leaving pipelines and storage tanks empty.
As a result, the usual morning water supply between 7 am and 8 am did not reach households. Many families were left without even basic water, making it difficult to carry out daily activities.
The situation worsened as residents rushed to arrange water tankers. A sudden surge in demand led to delays, with many struggling to secure timely supply. Several areas witnessed confusion and inconvenience due to the shortage.
Children, elderly residents, office-goers, and students were among the worst affected, as their daily schedules were disrupted. Many were unable to complete essential morning routines before leaving for work or college.
Officials of PMC water supply department said that works such as valve replacement and installation of large water meters caused delays due to unforeseen technical issues. While water supply was expected to resume in phases after 12 PM, authorities indicated that full restoration could take more time, drawing criticism from residents over the lack of proper planning.