A huge fire erupted in the Surat Raj Textile Market, which is one of the major textile trading markets in the city, throwing panic among both shopkeepers and shoppers. The fire is said to have been ignited at very early hours of the morning and swept through various stores within no time, as the rolls of fabric and other flammable substances kept in the market were enough fuel to promote the fire. The severity of the fire prompted the authorities to mobilize over 22 fire brigade vehicles in their effort to contain the fire and ensure that the fire did not spread to other adjacent shops and residential houses.
Witnesses talked of the heavy smoke emanating from the market, the flames even being seen at a long distance. Storekeepers hastened to get out of the building, taking stock and necessities where they could, and local residents and spectators crowded together to observe the firefighting operations. Firefighters laboured past the end of hard work in extinguishing the fire, by high-pressure water hoses and other fire-containing gear to ensure that the market did not continue to suffer large-scale destruction.
The Raj Textile Market, with a high density of textile stores and warehouses, was a serious obstacle to the fire department, both as a result of narrow lanes and the immense amount of flammable material. The quick action of the fire officers was paramount in ensuring that the fire did not spread to other buildings and cover the whole market. Although the blaze was very intense, early reports show that no one was killed, but the full magnitude of property and inventory damage has not been determined yet.
This fire has exposed a lot of shop owners to huge losses of money, as the materials, such as textiles, ready-made clothes, and raw materials that were kept in bulk, have been destroyed. The traders are worried about the direct effect on business, particularly when you are in the peak season of trading, and the orders are high. The government is liaising with local leaders to examine the destruction and offer support to the affected shopkeepers, where insurance and possible government aid may be involved.
The occurrence has again brought to the fore the need to ensure the safety of fire in marketplaces that are prone to a large number of people, and those holding goods that are highly flammable. Proper wiring, workable fire extinguishers, exit routes, and frequent safety auditing are emphasized by the experts to avoid such disastrous incidents in the future. The fire department and Surat Municipal Corporation will be expected to carry out an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the fire, and other markets of the same type should be more equipped in case of a fire outbreak.
The residents and traders in the surrounding area are on high alert since firefighting efforts are still going on, and the government is encouraging people to stay out of the area until it is considered secure. It is all about putting the fire out and, to the best of its ability, reducing the losses and restoring some sanity to one of the busiest commercial centres in Surat.
