French woman’s viral comment on Gurgaon’s garbage problem sparks online storm

A comment from a French woman living in Gurgaon has drawn attention online after she reacted to a video showing heaps of garbage near a school in the city. Her response has led to widespread discussion on social media about civic issues in the area.The video, showing a long stretch of road in Gurgaon covered with garbage, received several reactions. Among them was Mathilde, a French woman currently living in the city. She wrote, “As a French expat living in Gurgaon, I am horrified by the actual state of the city. I have never seen so much filth, trash, and broken roads in any other country I have visited. Africa, Asia, and South America are 100 times cleaner. It is sad for Indians.

And for India.”Her comment quickly gained traction on social media, drawing both support and criticism.In a reply to a comment, Mathilde added, “It could be so much better. India has so much amazing people and culture. It is such a pity. I hope it will improve in the future. It could be a wonderful place to live in. But the waste has to be taking care of.”

Her remarks continued to spread online, drawing more attention. On X (formerly Twitter), some users also criticised what they saw as a gap between public cleanliness campaigns and the actual condition on the ground. One post read, “Govt school kids participate in Swachh Bharat events hearing speeches & seeing politicians with brooms but reality differs.

SWM Rules not followed.” The post also tagged civic authorities and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram.Mathilde’s comments have now gone viral, sparking a mix of anger, reflection, and debate. While many supported her views, others felt her comparisons were unfair.The video and her statements led to mixed reactions. Some people praised Mathilde for speaking honestly and said her concerns were valid. Others felt she was generalising or being too harsh.One user wrote, “#Gurugram is a city where people who stay in private islands of excellence in gated communities are hardly bothered about the hell hole the rest of the City is. Can you imagine Apartments selling here for 10M$?”Another user who felt Mathilde’s post was disrespectful commented, “Shall I pull a few pictures of the bad parts of Paris and show you? Projecting only the bad parts of a city and claiming it as the general reality is the favourite game on this platform apparently.”