Foreigners clean Gurgaon roads and drains, spark outrage: 'Nothing can be more shameful'

A group of foreign nationals living in Gurgaon joined hands with local residents on Sunday to clear garbage from roads and drains, prompting widespread criticism of the city’s municipal administration. The initiative, captured in a viral video shared by news agency ANI, showed participants picking up trash and holding placards with slogans like “My Gurugram, my pride, my responsibility” and “Your street, your responsibility. No trash, more trees.”

‘India is amazing, but there’s garbage everywhere’

Speaking to ANI, a French national who has lived in India for nine years said, “India is amazing. I love this country. But, sadly, sometimes there is a lot of garbage everywhere.” The video quickly gained traction online, with users expressing embarrassment and frustration over the state of sanitation in Gurgaon.

“This is actually a slap on our face. Indians should be doing it,” one user commented. Another wrote, “Shame on the Indian govt and every Indian who throws their trash on the roadside.” A third user added, “Nothing can be more shameful than this.”

Read more: French expat 'horrified' on Gurgaon’s garbage problem, post goes viral: 'Never seen so much filth'

Waterlogging adds to civic frustration

The drive came days after torrential rain caused severe waterlogging across Gurgaon, with videos showing flood-like conditions in several areas. Following the downpour on August 14, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) issued a statement claiming its engineering and sanitation teams had responded promptly to complaints.

“MCG’s call centre operators continuously relayed waterlogging complaints from various areas to the respective field teams,” a spokesperson told The Indian Express. “Grievances received via social media platforms were addressed promptly.”

Civic action meets public outrage

The cleanliness drive began near the Guru Dronacharya Metro Station and was marked by a rare display of civic unity. Participants focused on collecting litter, unclogging drains, and spreading awareness about public hygiene in the Millennium City.

While many praised the effort, the underlying sentiment on social media remained critical of the authorities. “It is embarrassing for both the government and the municipality,” one user wrote.

The incident has reignited conversations around civic responsibility, urban infrastructure, and the role of citizens in holding local administrations accountable.