Half of Surat’s Shiv Shakti textile market reduced to ashes, says fire officer
Firefighters are battling a massive blaze at Surat’s Shiv Shakti textile market, which broke out Wednesday morning. The fire has destroyed nearly half of the stores, forcing authorities to seal off the area, evacuate people, and deploy police teams for safety and traffic control.
Chief Fire Officer Basant Kumar Parikh said the high temperature inside the building is making firefighting efforts difficult. “The material stored inside has intensified the heat. We received the first call around 8 AM. The building’s structural stability is uncertain, so we are using hydraulic platforms to douse the fire from outside. About 50% of the stores have caught fire,” he told ANI.
Firefighting teams are working continuously to contain the flames. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhagirath Gadhavi confirmed that police have cordoned off the area. “Fire brigade teams are actively working to put out the fire. We have evacuated the entire area and deployed police on a large scale to ensure safety. Traffic control measures are in place,” he said.
Authorities have shut down all 800 shops in the Shiv Shakti market and closed surrounding markets to prevent further damage. Police teams remain stationed to protect nearby businesses.
