Pune Residents Sit In Flooded Kothrud Drain To Protest Construction Amid Heavy Rains
Pune Residents Sit In Flooded Kothrud Drain To Protest Construction Amid Heavy Rains
Pune, April 3, 2026: As unseasonal heavy rains continue to batter Pune, many parts of the city are facing severe waterlogging, fallen trees, and property damage. Amid this chaos, residents have raised concerns over municipal negligence in addressing drainage and water management issues.
In Kothrud, locals observed construction work being carried out on a drain that was already overflowing due to the rains. The work, which involved filling the drain to extend a road under the Development Plan (DP) project, has reportedly exacerbated waterlogging in the area.
Residents, led by local youth activist Rohit Marne, staged a protest by sitting in the water to demand immediate action from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Marne alleged that the blockage of the Kothrud drain for road construction has caused significant flooding, leaving homes and streets submerged.
“This is the peak of civic negligence. While the city is struggling with rising water levels, the PMC is blocking natural drainage channels, putting residents at risk,” Marne said during the protest.
Visuals from the protest showed several people seated in waist-deep water on the drain, highlighting the growing frustration among residents. Local authorities have yet to respond to calls for urgent action, leaving citizens demanding accountability and immediate intervention to prevent further flooding.
The incident underscores long-standing issues with drainage management in Pune, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas like Kothrud, where improper construction on water channels continues to worsen the city’s vulnerability during heavy rainfall.
