'Stay back in China': IIM grad sparks debate after comparing Gurgaon's drainage to China's streets

When the skies opened over Delhi-NCR this week, waterlogged streets followed close behind—an all-too-familiar sight for locals. But one frustrated resident, Chirag Mahawar, an IIM Lucknow graduate, decided to vent his anger on social media. Little did he know his comparison between Gurgaon’s drainage system and China’s spotless streets would ignite a fiery debate online.

Sharing a short video of waterlogged roads in Gurgaon, Chirag Mahawar criticised the city's drainage system on X, calling it a nuisance that exposed poor infrastructure. He pointed out how just 30 minutes of rainfall had left the streets submerged, in stark contrast to his recent visit to Guangzhou, China, where even after hours of rain, streets remained completely dry.

Internet’s reaction
His post quickly gained traction, sparking both support and sharp criticism. Some sympathised with the state of urban infrastructure, but others were quick to accuse Mahawar of exaggerating and shaming his own country.

The backlash came swiftly. Comments ranged from sarcastic jabs to more scathing ones. One user said that Chirag should have “stayed back in China” while another expressed frustration, saying they were tired of people who constantly glorify China's developed cities to belittle India.

Adding to the conversation, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram issued a response, stating that its teams were already on the ground and stormwater drains were running at full capacity due to unusually high rainfall.

Height of nuisance in India. The 30 mins of rain and this is the level of water logging as if drains don't exist at all. I was in Guanzhou, China 2 months back and even hours of rain there was not a single drop of water on streets@MunCorpGurugram @NayabSainiBJP @cmohry #Gurgaon pic.twitter.com/XnRc5glJBD

— Chirag Mahawar (@mahawarchirag) July 9, 2025

Delhi rain
Heavy rainfall led to widespread waterlogging and traffic snarls across Delhi on Sunday, affecting key areas like Nehru Place, Kailash Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Aurobindo Marg, Siri Fort Road, Outer Ring Road, ITO, Akshardham, and National Highway 8, among others.

The Najafgarh weather station recorded the highest rainfall at 60 mm between 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm, followed by Aya Nagar (50.5 mm), Pragati Maidan (37 mm), and other areas with lighter showers. The maximum temperature dropped to 35.6°C, slightly below average, while the minimum was 26.4°C.

Humidity levels were high—81% in the morning and 58% in the evening, according to the IMD. Despite the downpour, Delhi's air quality remained in the “satisfactory” range with an AQI of 81 at 4 pm.