As the monsoon rains intensify, Fursungi village near Pune is submerged in floodwaters. The road connecting Bharat Petrol Pump on the Palkhi route to the Saswad Road highway, a lifeline for thousands of locals and pilgrims, turns into a dangerous water trap every year.
This year too, the residents got no relief. Heavy rains caused a nearby stream to overflow, merging completely with the road and making it impossible to tell where the road ends and the water begins.
The residents warn that without proper signage, barriers or drainage, unsuspecting commuters may be swept away in the flow. “There’s no way to know if it's a road or a stream. One wrong step, and you could lose your life,” said social activist Deepali Sardeshmukh.
“There are no guardrails, warning boards or permanent flood-control structures, even though the danger is well-known and recurring. Only guardrails that are easily blown away by the wind are there in the name of safety measures. What’s worse, administrative bodies are playing a blame game while citizens suffer. When complaints reached the Pune District Disaster Management Department, it forwarded them to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). PMC carried out temporary drain cleaning, but refused further action, claiming the area does not fall under its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, the newly formed Nagar Parishad, meant to serve Fursungi and Uruli Devachi, has failed to deliver basic services. Both agencies deny responsibility, leaving critical safety issues and people to suffer,” added Sardeshmukh.
Prashant Nikam, another resident of Fursungi, said, “In 2022, the Bombay High Court said that the formation of a separate Nagar Parishad for Fursungi and Uruli Devachi was illegal, directing that both villages be merged into the PMC like the other 34 fringe villages. Despite this, the state government under then-Chief Minister and current Deputy CM Eknath Shinde reissued a similar illegal notification, reportedly under political pressure. As a result, Fursungi and Uruli Devachi remain caught in a legal and administrative no man’s land. The injustice is especially bitter for residents who dutifully pay taxes yet receive no civic services in return. Roads are crumbling, drainage is poor, and now, as floodwaters rise, even lives are at risk. We’re treated like outsiders in our city.”
Sushmita Vardha, another resident, said, “Our demands are the immediate inclusion of Fursungi and Uruli Devachi into PMC as per High Court orders, and construction of proper stormwater drains, road safety barriers, and warning systems. We are not asking for favours. We are demanding what is rightfully our safety, dignity, and equal treatment.”
Meanwhile, speaking to The Free Press Journal, Aniruddha Pawaskar, Head of PMC's Road Department, said, “We are filling the potholes, and we do it throughout the year. The quality of material used for filling these potholes is the best, and we don’t compromise on that. However, the heavy rains are washing it away, so we can’t do much about it.”
