To answer your question, two squadrons of the IAF No. 20 (Lightnings) and No. 30 (Rhinos) are stationed at the Pune Lohegaon Air Force Base as part of the SW Air Command which is designated as the frontline defense command against Pakistan during any emergency, assigned with a fully operational status, operating the Sukhoi-30 MKIs. Their main purpose is to be combat ready & reach within 10 MINUTES FLAT or less of any aerial threat from the Arabian sea over the city of Mumbai and surrounding cities, Mumbai especially because it is the financial capital of India with some of the most important & busiest installations both Govt & Non-Govt, which are vital & of strategic importance to the nation, including vital defense assets, installations & organizations located in Pune like the Southern Command (Indian Army), DRDO, NDA & other major industrial organizations that are of strategic value to the nation’s defense. So it is BUT obvious that the air force conducts routine sorties as part of protocol to maintain optimal levels of operational preparedness at all times (war or peace). They could be training / patrolling / Recon sorties.

Secondly, you need not be paranoid about crashes in populated areas. Because IAF Pilots are trained fundamentally on the principle: Civilians First . Plane Second . Self Last. So rest assured, it is their protocol to avoid civilian areas in times of emergencies and would do everything in their power to try & take the planes as far away as possible from crowded areas and find remote desolated ground to crash in before ejecting themselves. And if need be, they may even go down with it to save maximum lives till the very end. Take Air Commodore Ajai Chouhan as an example who went down with his Mig a couple of days ago. Besides. The No. 20 Squadron (Lightnings) is THE most decorated Squadron of the IAF. They have some of the most experienced, trained & skilled pilots in the IAF & the squadron is also assigned with training newbies for the first time on the Sukhois. In other words, they are the TOP GUNS of the IAF. So rest assured, you’re safe & under the sound protection of some of the best pilots in the world. Not just India. Hope that clears your doubts & fears.