Pimpri-Chinchwad: Father and Nine-Year-Old Daughter Fall Into 10-Foot Open Drain on Punawale Service Road; Pit Still Unbarricaded Next Day, Family Says
A man and his nine-year-old daughter fell into a 10-ft open drain on the Punawale service road during Sunday’s rain. The family says the pit was still unbarricaded next morning.
Photo: Rsrikanth05 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 3rd November 2026: A man and his nine-year-old daughter fell into an open drainage pit about 10 feet deep on the service road near Punawale Bazaar on Sunday evening, 1 November, while walking home in the rain. Both escaped with minor scratches after passing bikers pulled them out.
When the family went back to the spot at about 11 am on Monday, the pit was still open with no barricades or warning signs, the father told Punekar News.
How it happened
The family of four was on its way to a function but turned back because of the rain and a traffic jam. “The Punawale tunnel was completely jammed due to rain and traffic,” the father said. With home about a kilometre away, they got off and walked. He and his elder daughter were a few steps ahead when both fell into the pit.
“I started shouting for help, following which some bike riders rushed to assist us and helped us get out,” he said.
A familiar danger after rain
Open drains and unmarked pits become hard to see when roads flood, as many did across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad over the weekend, when the city got its heaviest November rain since 2019.
The family has asked the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to cover or barricade the pit before someone is seriously hurt. PCMC’s response was not available. We will update this article when it responds.
Read about the weekend’s rain and waterlogging.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on the Punawale service road?
On 1 November 2026, a man and his nine-year-old daughter fell into a 10-foot open drainage pit near Punawale Bazaar while walking home in the rain. Both had minor injuries.
Has the Punawale pit been covered?
The family said it was still open without barricades on the morning of 2 November. PCMC had not responded at the time of publishing.
How do I report an open drain in Pimpri-Chinchwad?
Use PCMC’s Sarathi helpline or app with a photo and the exact location.
