The incident follows another fire that broke out on Tuesday afternoon (February 25, 2025) in the building’s basement, where textile stock was stored
A massive fire broke out at a four-storey textile market in Surat, Gujarat, on Wednesday morning (February 26, 2025), marking the second such incident at the premises within 24 hours. The fire damaged more than 800 shops in the building, though no casualties have been reported so far, officials said.
Efforts to extinguish the blaze were ongoing as around 30 fire tenders and dozens of personnel were deployed at the scene. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the building as firefighters worked to contain the flames.
According to the Fire Department, the fire is suspected to have originated on the top floor of the building, possibly due to a short circuit. “While the exact cause of the fire is still being investigated, prima facie it appears that the blaze started on the top floor due to a short circuit,” an official said.
The incident follows another fire that broke out on Tuesday afternoon (February 25, 2025) in the building’s basement, where textile stock was stored. The earlier blaze claimed the life of one worker due to asphyxiation and was brought under control after a few hours, the official added.
The Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) expressed concern over the severity of the fire. Kailash Hakim, President of FOSTTA, said, “Teams of the Fire Department, police, and FOSTTA are busy fighting the fire that continues to rage. The situation is grave. But firefighters from across the city have reached here and we pray to God that the situation comes under control at the earliest.”
Surat is a major textile hub in India, housing thousands of traders and manufacturers. The incident has raised questions about fire safety measures in commercial buildings, especially in markets that store large quantities of flammable materials.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and evaluate the building’s compliance with fire safety regulations.
