‘Look At the US’: Haryana CM Cites America While Responding to Gurugram Flood Crisis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini drew a comparison with the recent floods in California, United States, stating that nothing can stand in the way of nature. His remarks come amid growing criticism over Gurugram’s unpreparedness for heavy rains, which have brought life in the city to a standstill.
In the last few days, Gurugram has been heavily waterlogged due to continuous downpours, leading to a near-flood-like situation. Several key areas such as the old Gurugram-Delhi road, Hero Honda Chowk, and Subhash Chowk have seen severe water accumulation, disrupting traffic and daily life.
Responding to the mounting criticism, Chief Minister Saini remarked that battling nature is not always possible. “Take the example of America — a nation that considers itself powerful — even a place like California gets flooded due to excessive rainfall,” he was quoted as saying by India Today on Saturday, referring to the recent flooding in parts of California.
Just last month, Southern California experienced dangerous flash floods, leading the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue multiple high-alert warnings, as per a report by Newsweek. Several regions in the United States witnessed torrential rains during the early part of July, worsening the flood situation.
However, Saini did acknowledge the need for better infrastructure to handle such weather events. “We are working at a fast pace. Gurugram is still in its development stage, and we are aiming to raise it to global standards,” he added.
Meanwhile, a video clip showing children swimming and floating in the flooded streets of Gurugram during heavy rainfall has gone viral, sparking concern and heated discussions on social media. While the children appeared carefree, the situation highlighted deeper civic issues.
“Gurugram is in shambles. Every year, crores are spent from the public exchequer on desilting drains. One spell of rain, and the truth is visible to everyone. You must fix the drainage system. When was the last time a new stormwater drain was constructed?” questioned a user on X (formerly Twitter).
At the same time, the Gurugram district administration has stated that efforts are being made to address the public grievances caused by the rains.
