Massive Fire Erupts Again At Surat’s Shiv Shakti Textile Market
A massive fire erupted in the four-storey Shiv Shakti Textile Market just hours after a blaze had been controlled in the building’s basement shops. The incident created panic in the area as Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES) teams, along with firefighters from multiple stations, launched extensive firefighting operations to prevent the flames from spreading. The fire was finally brought under control yesterday evening. No casualties were reported.
The textile market building, which houses 834 shops with large stocks of textile products, primarily polyester sarees, posed a significant fire hazard. Given its location amid other textile markets, containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to adjoining buildings was a major challenge.
Flames and thick smoke billowing from the windows and passages created a terrifying scene, with plumes of smoke visible across the city. Traders who lost their stock were seen in distress outside the building as they watched their goods being consumed by the fire.
Along with 27 SFES firefighters, at least seven from Hazira industries also joined the operation. In total, around 150 firefighting personnel were deployed. The police managed crowd control and traffic to ensure quick access for fire engines.
The initial fire had erupted on Tuesday, February 25, in a basement shop, spreading to over five adjacent shops before being controlled late in the evening. SFES had declared the operation over after completing the cooling process. However, the fire reignited the next morning, spreading rapidly to multiple shops on the upper floors before being brought under control.
