On Wednesday morning, a huge fire erupted in the well-known Raj Textile Market in Surat and brought about a massive emergency response as massive smoke columns covered the site. The accident that happened in the busy textile industrial city led to the rush of over 22 fire brigade vehicles to the location as firefighting operators fought the blaze that lasted several hours.
Based on initial findings, the fire broke out on one of the higher floors of the multi-storey commercial building, where there are a number of textile stores and stores. It took only minutes before the fire could spread so much because of the availability of highly flammable fabric materials, which made the traders and workers nearby panic. When the alarm was raised, many shop owners hurried to the location, yet the police officers did not lag behind and surrounded the area to avoid injuries and successfully conducted the emergency.
According to the eyewitnesses, the fire could be seen at a significant distance, with smoke sticking up very high above the adjacent business complexes. Many groups of firefighters controlled the fire with the help of hydraulic platforms and water cannons, and the other reinforcement was called in through the available fire stations. Fire authorities reported that there have been no casualties thus far, but an evaluation is in progress to establish the magnitude of property damage.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, according to the authorities. Suspicion first indicates the possibility of a short circuit, which is common in an overcrowded business market with high electrical demand. Officials have, however, avoided making any official declaration until a complete forensic examination has been conducted.
Surat is home to hundreds of traders, and the Raj Textile Market is one of the busiest markets in Surat, where they engage in wholesale fabric supply in India. The news of the fire started spreading as anxious traders gathered around the area, fearing that their goods worth lakhs of rupees might be damaged in the building. The fire officials assured that the situation was under control, but reminded that there were hours more before total extinguishing and cooling of the situation was complete.
Local governments have encouraged shop owners to collaborate with the current rescue and inspection efforts. The traffic in the surroundings of the market area has been diverted to prevent congestion and to enable the emergency vehicles to pass without any interference.
Although the fire has now been contained to a larger extent, there is likely to be an official report of the estimated loss and root cause being released shortly. The fire incident again reveals the necessity to enforce better fire safety in commercial properties, particularly in dense market areas such as textile hubs in Surat.
