Pune: Heavy rains lash the city, tree falls on PMPML service van

As heavy rains lashed Pune city on Wednesday, a tree fell on a service van of civic transport service Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML). According to reports, the service van was sent to Tilak Road to attend another bus which had broken down earlier in the day. The driver had parked the van under a tree in a bylane. During the heavy downpour, a tree fell on the van with the driver trapped inside, stated reports. According to further reports, the driver was rescued but succumbed to injuries. The heavy downpour lasted for an hour leading to waterlogging in many parts of the city.

Raj Thackeray's rally called off

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's election rally in the city had to be called off due to the rains. According to reports, his first public meeting scheduled on Wednesday ahead of the Maharashtra state Assembly elections was cancelled. He was scheduled to kick off his party's campaign for the state polls through his rally at Saraswati Vidya Mandir in Sadashiv Peth area in Pune. Maharashtra assembly polls will be conducted between 21 and the counting will be held on October 24. Simultaneously, the Haryana Assembly elections will also be carried out. 

Read | Raj Thackeray's convoy meets with an accident, MNS chief unhurt

Read | Maharashtra Floods LIVE: Rescue operations on in multiple districts; Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune face inundation

Heavy rains in Pune

According to reports, Pune and its neighbouring districts have been witnessing heavy flooding since the last week of September. The city has witnessed several deaths due to the heavy downpour. Waterlogging in several parts of the city has led to an increased traffic jam as well. Further reports stated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a media statement had assured assistance for the flood-affected people in Pune. On September 26, he had tweeted about the rescue operations and assistance. 

Read | Gujarat Floods: CM Vijay Rupani hails heroic policeman for daring retrieval, netizens notice rescued girls' confidence in him

Read | Maharashtra Floods: Agencies supply relief materials as rescue operations intensify

(With PTI inputs)