Major Fire At Surat Textile Market, No Casualties

According to rescue officials, the fire control room received the first emergency call at around 12:52 a.m., following which fire tenders were immediately dispatched from three nearby fire stations to the location.

Firefighters who reached the spot found the fourth and fifth floors of the market engulfed in flames, while thick smoke had severely reduced visibility inside the building, making it difficult for personnel to assess and approach the affected areas.

Considering the intensity and scale of the blaze, a major fire call was subsequently declared, following which additional fire tenders were mobilised from other areas of Surat to assist in the firefighting and rescue operation.

Firefighting Complicated By Double-Height Floors

Surat Municipal Corporation Chief Fire Officer Basant Parikh said that firefighting operations were being carried out with the assistance of turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms due to the considerable height of the floors affected by the fire.

"Around 20-22 fire tenders have been deployed to control the blaze," he said.

"The textile market has double-height floors, which means that the fourth and fifth floors are effectively situated at a much greater height than their conventional levels. As a result, firefighters are having to conduct the operation at a height of around 20 metres," he added.

Electricity Cut, Zero Visibility Inside

Parikh mentioned that the electricity supply to the building has been shut off as a precautionary measure to prevent any electrical hazard during the firefighting operation.

At the same time, he said that the heavy smoke inside the market has reduced visibility to almost zero, creating additional challenges for the firefighters working inside the building.

"Firefighters are using breathing apparatus sets to enter the smoke-filled premises and reach the affected floors to tackle the flames," Parikh stated.

Operation Still Underway

The firefighting teams are continuing efforts to bring the blaze under control and prevent the fire from spreading further to other parts of the market or nearby areas.

There have been no reports of anyone being trapped inside the building, and firefighting and containment operations remain underway, officials said.

(With inputs from IANS)