At just half mark, Pune has already received nearly double its quota of monsoon rainfall, data shows

The monsoon in Pune starts in June and ends in September, post which, the retreat begins. This year, monsoon has reached Pune before time and June has seen only 97 per cent of its normal rainfall. However, July has recorded 137 per cent of its normal rainfall.

July has been better in terms of spatial distribution of rainfall with the city recovering rainfall almost every day since July 2. On July 25, Pune recorded 114.1 mm of rainfall, which is the third highest recorded in July till now. Earlier, July 19, 1958, 130.4 mm of rain was recorded, making it the highest ever single-day rainfall, while on July 27, 1967, the second highest single-day rainfall at 117.9 mm was recorded in Pune.

This time, the monsoon has been marked with heavy but sporadic rainfall in Pune. Pune this year has seen lesser rainy days which translate into heavy rainfall resembling cloudburst like situations. A rainy day, as per the IMD, is registered when a station receives more than 2.5 mm of rainfall. On June 4 and June 9, areas of Pune city had received such rainfall. The 24-hour maximum rainfall was recorded on July 25 at

With the city already receiving almost double its seasonal quota of rainfall just half way into the season, this monsoon is expected to end with a large amount of excess rain.

These incidents of heavy rainfall, IMD scientists say, is what climate scientists across the world had said would happen — more rainfall in a shorter period of time.

Dams, which supply water to Pune, are almost full and continuous discharge of water is now being carried out. Dams at the tail end of the Bhima basin i.e. Ujjani has also reported a good rise in its water levels.

Meanwhile, excessive rainfall in the pre-catchment and catchment areas of the dams had caused flooding in Pune and led to the death of six people in and around the city last week. Three more people are missing and search operations are on to trace them.