Major fire erupts at Shyam Sangini textile market in Surat; 10+ shops gutted

Surat: A massive fire broke out at the Shyam Sangini textile market in Surat’s Saroli area around midnight, gutting goods stored in around 15 to 17 shops and destroying a large quantity of festive-season stock. The fire started on the sixth floor and spread to the fifth and fourth floors before being brought under control at around 9 am after hours of firefighting.

The Surat Fire and Emergency Services received a call about the blaze at 12:52 am. Initially, five to six fire tenders and senior officials were rushed to the spot. After firefighters found flames and thick black smoke on the fifth and sixth floors, a ‘brigade call’ was issued, bringing additional fire tenders from across the city.

More than 15 fire tenders and a turntable ladder were deployed to tackle the blaze. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing them under control. The cause of the fire remains unknown and an investigation is underway.

A large quantity of ready-made garments and other textile goods stocked for the upcoming festive season was destroyed. Traders had built up substantial inventories in anticipation of increased demand, resulting in extensive losses.

Firefighters faced additional difficulties as cloth and other goods were allegedly stored in the market passages, restricting access and reducing visibility as thick smoke filled the closed building.

The power supply to the entire building was also switched off as a precaution to prevent any short circuit during the firefighting operation. Traders said the market’s main power connection is normally switched off at night under its rules.

Smoke and water used during the rescue operation also damaged goods inside the market. Authorities are conducting a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the losses. DeshGujarat