Pune: Rain gods smiled on Pune which saw fairly heavy showers, accompanied by occasional thunder and lightning, across most parts on Sunday. It not only brought relief from an extended spell of hot and humid conditions, but raised hopes for sustained wet days ahead.The progress of the southwest monsoon from Kerala stalled after reaching south Konkan earlier this month, under the effect of El Nino. Normally, monsoon arrives in Pune on June 10. This year, people have been waiting for rains as they continue to suffer from the heat and humidity in the absence of pre-monsoon showers, while also battling depleted water reserves and related supply cuts.The showers that started around 3.30pm on Sunday left residents enjoying themselves, especially since it was the weekend. Wet spells were reported from Hadapsar, Wanowrie, Bopodi, Kothrud, Paud Road, Kondhwa and several other areas, while heavy showers were witnessed in the Warje Malwadi, Bavdhan and Pashan neighbourhoods. People took to their balconies and terraces to soak in the rain.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) data till 5.30 pm on Sunday said there was heavy downpour in the NDA area and 78.5 mm rain was recorded. Shivajinagar saw 18.3 mm of rain. Hadapsar 8.5mm and Pashan 4mm. Lavale and Lohegaon registered 1.5mm and 0.6mm rain, respectively, while Chinchwad remained dry.IMD officials said Sunday’s showers fall in the category of pre-monsoon rain, since the weather circulation system is yet to enter parts of Maharashtra, including Pune.“The monsoonal flow has strengthened, leading to increased moisture incursion over the region. Combined with daytime heat, the enhanced moisture availability has resulted in the development of thunderstorms and pre-monsoon showers over Pune city and its surrounding areas. Light to moderate rainfall is likely during the period. The southwest monsoon is expected to set in over the region within the next 24-48 hours,” senior scientist at IMD SD Sanap told TOI.Meanwhile, heavy localised rains were witnessed in the Khadakwasla dam catchment area too, even as the upper areas of Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar recorded no fresh showers during the day. Khadakwasla recorded 30mm of rain by evening, bringing the seasonal total to 31 mm.The collective water stock across the four dams stands at 3.90 TMC currently, translating to just 13.39% of the total storage capacity. This marks a significant deficit compared to the same period last year, when the reservoir complex held a comfortable 9.67 TMC or 33.19% of its capacity. Among the individual reservoirs, Khadakwasla is filled to 26.83% (0.53 TMC), followed by Panshet at 17.63% (1.88 TMC) and Varasgaon at 11.67% (1.50 TMC). Temghar reservoir does not have any live storage. Bhama Askhed is at 29.15% (2.23 TMC).IMD has also said conditions are favourable for a further advance of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and some parts of Chhattisgarh around June 23. The IMD has also forecast rain for Pune during the week. “Partly cloudy skies becoming generally cloudy towards afternoon or evening, with thunderstorms, lightning and light rain is very likely,” it said.IMD officials said a number of weather conditions present in and around the country are leading to the current rainfall. These include a seasonal trough running from Punjab to Bihar, a western disturbance, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over northwest Uttar Pradesh and its neighbouring areas, a cyclonic circulation from east Uttar Pradesh to coastal Andhra Pradesh, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over central Assam, another over Rayalaseema and a trough running across north Chhattisgarh.In Pune, Salunke Vihar Road resident Pankaj Singh said the showers were a huge relief. “It is a happy moment and I hope the rain continues. If it does, the dams will be full and the administration will roll back the decision of alternate-day water supply. The rain is absolutely essential and I personally do not care about the hassles it might cause,” he said.NIBM Road Annexe resident Shishir Mahr shared the sentiment. “The water problem is getting on to our nerves now, leaving us troubled and hassled. I hope the rain continues and there is heavy downpour for further relief,” he said.Kavita Pawar, a resident of Pashan, said that Puneites are relieved that it has rained. With the water supply restricted to alternate days, residents — particularly women — are facing severe hardship. “We hope the rain remains active and continues to replenish the water resources,” she added.With inputs from Joy Sengupta and Mihir Tanksale
