Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Tuesday urged citizens to stay indoors amid heavy downpour in the city.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kumar wrote, "Dear Punekars, Your safety remains our utmost priority as the city continues to witness heavy rainfall, resulting in waterlogging across several locations. We urge you to refrain from venturing outdoors unless it is absolutely unavoidable."
In case of emergencies, the CP asked citizens to dial 112.
"Our officials and staff are ready to assist. In the event of any emergency, please reach out immediately to the helpline number 112," he added.
Meanwhile, heavy rains caused waterlogging and traffic jams across most areas of Pune, including Hinjawadi, Sinhagad Road, Dhayari, Kharadi, and Mundhwa, leading to severe inconvenience for officegoers.
‘Work from home is the need of the hour’
The Forum for IT Employees (FITE) urged IT companies to allow employees to work from home amid heavy rains and severe infrastructure woes in the city. IT companies are mainly situated in areas like Hinjawadi, Baner, Kharadi, Hadapsar, and Viman Nagar.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), FITE wrote, "Heavy rains predicted in Pune for the coming days, yet no steps taken to make #WorkFromHome mandatory. Most IT companies are already hybrid – giving WFH will not affect delivery but will surely help employees stuck in traffic jams, waterlogging, and pothole-filled roads."
FITE urged the Maharashtra government and IT firms to declare work from home. "This will reduce traffic pressure, ease stress on civic authorities, and provide relief to employees," it added.
"With Pune’s current infra condition – broken roads, flooded underpasses, and poor drainage – #WFH is the need of the hour," FITE concluded.
‘Pune's infrastructure has gone to the dogs’
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Disha Jha, an employee at a prominent IT company in Hinjawadi, said, "We have to go to office irrespective of the massive downpour and traffic jams. It takes two hours to reach the office and two hours to come back home."
Another IT professional, Deepak Sheth, added, "Pune's infrastructure has gone to the dogs. A little rain and the entire city is flooded and traffic comes to a halt. The administration must do something, or else companies will have no option but to relocate."
