Blaze engulfs two floors at Surat textile market, no casualties reported

A major fire broke out on the upper floors of Surat's Shyam Sangini Textile Market early Wednesday. Dense smoke, double-height floors and burning textile stock complicated the firefighting operation.

In Short

• First emergency call reached the fire control room at 12:52 am
• Crews from three stations responded before a major fire call followed
• Double-height floors pushed crews to operate nearly 30 metres above ground

A major fire broke out at the Shyam Sangini Textile Market in Surat's Saroli area early Wednesday, prompting the deployment of around 15 fire brigade vehicles as firefighters battled dense smoke and flames across the upper floors of the market.

Chief Fire Officer Basant Parikh said the fire control room received the first call at around 12:52 am, following which fire tenders were dispatched from three stations.

Fire officials reaching the spot found the fourth and fifth floors engulfed in flames, with thick smoke severely restricting visibility. A major fire call was subsequently declared, and additional fire tenders were mobilised from other areas.

Firefighting operations are being carried out with the help of turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms because of the considerable height of the affected floors. Parikh said the market has double-height floors, making the fourth and fifth levels effectively equivalent to much higher floors, with the firefighting operation taking place at a height of around 30 metres.

The electricity supply to the building has been shut off, while heavy smoke has reduced visibility to almost zero inside the market. Firefighters are using breathing apparatus sets to enter and tackle the blaze.

A large quantity of textile stock stored in passageways has also caught fire, making the operation more challenging. Officials said shutters of other shops would be opened after the initial firefighting operation to assess the extent of the damage.

So far, there are no reports of anyone being trapped inside the building. Firefighting operations remain underway.

- Ends