Gurugram, July 11 -- It was chaos that is all too familiar for people living in the so-called Millennium City. On Wednesday night, a two-hour downpour triggered a cascade of tragedies across Gurugram, leaving at least eight people dead-electrocuted, drowned, swept into manholes or killed in road accidents.

Once again, Gurugram found itself knee-deep in grief, sewage, and questions that have echoed through its flooded streets for years. What does it take for one of India's wealthiest, fastest-growing cities to prepare for something as predictable as rain?

By morning, roads remained submerged, drains were choked with sludge, and anger among residents had risen almost as fast as the floodwaters. Once again, the promise of a world-class urb...