Surat: In view of recurring fire incidents in Surat’s textile markets, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to purchase a 38,000-litre capacity fire tanker, which will be the largest of its kind in the country. With this move, Surat is set to become the first municipal corporation in India to deploy such a high-capacity fire tanker.

At present, the SMC operates five tankers with a maximum capacity of 15,000 litres. However, officials have noted that during large-scale fire incidents, these tankers often run out of water quickly, leading to delays in firefighting. By the time a fresh tanker arrives, the fire frequently intensifies again due to the interruption in continuous water supply.

The need for a larger tanker was strongly felt during recent fires in Shivshakti Market and Raj Market, where fire teams struggled for hours to bring the blaze under control.

According to the civic body’s plan, the upcoming 38,000-litre tanker will serve as a stationary water reserve, allowing smaller fire vehicles to refill on-site during prolonged operations. Officials believe this will be a major breakthrough in tackling long-duration fires, particularly in densely packed textile markets.

Surat leading in high-tech fire safety

The Surat Municipal Corporation is already among the most advanced in the state in terms of firefighting infrastructure. It is currently the only municipal body in Gujarat equipped with a 90-metre hydraulic turntable, along with three additional turntable units.

With the addition of the new high-capacity tanker, Surat is expected to further strengthen its position as a national leader in modern fire safety preparedness. DeshGujarat