Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Bus Breakdown in France Sparks Debate Over India's Jugaad Culture
Dr Garima Chauhan was travelling by bus to Paris when the bus stopped working.
She said this happened around 4 a.m.
The passengers waited near a petrol pump for about six hours.
A replacement bus eventually arrived after 10 a.m.
The delay meant Garima could not follow her plans to see Paris and the Eiffel Tower as planned.
The bus company offered passengers a €10 voucher.
Garima said she thought a bus might be fixed more quickly in India because mechanics are easy to find.
Some people agreed with her, while others said fast service can depend on workers being treated fairly and noted that buses can also leave people stranded in India.
Indian traveller and content creator Dr Garima Chauhan said her FlixBus to Paris broke down around 4 a.m.
She said passengers waited near a petrol pump for about six hours, with a replacement bus arriving after 10 a.m.
The delay disrupted her plans to visit Paris and the Eiffel Tower; the bus company offered passengers a €10 voucher.
Chauhan contrasted the wait with what she believed would be a faster repair in India, citing the availability of local mechanics.
Online responses were mixed, with some praising India's quick fixes and others citing workers' rights, work-life balance, and delays on Indian buses.
- Who
- Dr Garima Chauhan, an Indian traveller and content creator, and other passengers on a FlixBus.
- What
- The bus broke down, leaving passengers waiting for a replacement for about six hours; Chauhan shared the experience and compared it with India.
- When
- The breakdown was reported at around 4 a.m.; Chauhan recorded her video at around 10 a.m.
- Where
- Near a petrol pump in France, while travelling to Paris.
- Why
- The bus stopped working; the articles do not state why it broke down.
Supporters of Chauhan’s comparison
Critics and dissenting commenters
Speed of roadside repairs
Supporters of Chauhan’s comparison
Some commenters supported Chauhan’s view that India’s widespread availability of mechanics can help resolve vehicle problems quickly.
Critics and dissenting commenters
Others questioned the comparison, said services in Europe may not operate around the clock, or shared examples of being stranded on Indian bus journeys.
Always-available services
Supporters of Chauhan’s comparison
Chauhan praised what she described as Indians’ willingness to work late and keep finding solutions when plans go wrong.
Critics and dissenting commenters
Some commenters argued that quick availability can come at the expense of fair working conditions and work-life balance.
- Traveller
- Dr Garima Chauhan, a content creator on a Europe trip
- Bus operator
- FlixBus
- Journey
- Travelling to Paris
- Breakdown reported
- Around 4 a.m.
- Wait
- About six hours, according to Chauhan
- Compensation offered
- A €10 voucher
- Online response
- Mixed; commenters debated quick repairs, working conditions and experiences with Indian buses