Pune, 1st July 2025: Heavy rainfall continues to lash the Ghat regions of Pune district, with Tamhini Ghat recording a massive 210 mm of rain in the past 24 hours alone. In a rare climatic feat, the total rainfall in June has already reached 2,515 mm in the Ghat areas, exceeding that of Meghalaya’s Cherrapunji, which has not yet crossed the 1,000 mm mark this season.

Lonavala and Mulshi have also received record-breaking rainfall this month. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), excessive rainfall in these areas has been ongoing since May due to favourable atmospheric pressure conditions. Experts state that this unusual trend has turned Maharashtra’s Ghat regions into some of the rainiest locations in the country this season.

Last year, despite the active El Niño phenomenon, Tamhini recorded around 10,000 mm of rainfall between June and September, while Mahabaleshwar received nearly 7,000 mm. This year, with atmospheric conditions better suited for rain, Tamhini and Mahabaleshwar have already surpassed some of the world’s most rain-prone locations.

Traditionally, Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in Meghalaya are considered the wettest places in India. However, the consistent downpour in Maharashtra's Ghat areas is now rivaling, and even outpacing them. Meteorologists have backed these findings with a research paper claiming the Western Ghats region is among the highest rainfall zones in India.

In the 2024 monsoon season, Mawsynram recorded 11,000 mm of rainfall between June and September, while Tamhini Ghat saw a staggering 10,700 mm. This year, however, Tamhini appears to be on track to break all previous records.

Looking ahead, the IMD forecasts that large parts of the country, including Maharashtra, are likely to receive above-normal rainfall in July. Regions such as Bihar, Northeast India, Tamil Nadu, parts of Kerala, West Bengal, and Sikkim may see comparatively lower rainfall, but Pune and surrounding areas are expected to continue experiencing higher-than-average rain through the month.