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Surat, Gujarat – A devastating fire has been raging in a textile market in Surat for more than 24 hours, turning the four-storey building into a blazing inferno. Shockingly, this is the second time within a day that the building has caught fire. The entire structure is now engulfed in flames, making it impossible for even fire brigade personnel to enter.

With over 800 shops inside, the market is one of the city's major commercial hubs. Many people might wonder—if firefighters are trained to control fires, why aren’t they entering the building?

Extreme Heat Prevents Firefighters from Entering

Chief Fire Officer Basant Kumar Parikh explained that the intense heat inside the building has made it too dangerous for the fire brigade to step in. "The fire has been burning continuously, raising the temperature to an extreme level. There's a huge amount of material inside, making it even more challenging to douse the flames," he said.

Firefighters received the first emergency call at 8 AM on Tuesday, but even after a full day, the fire remains uncontrollable. Officials are uncertain about the structural integrity of the building, which is why they are using hydraulic platforms to combat the flames from outside. "Currently, about 50% of the market is still burning," Parikh added.

Over 30 Fire Trucks Fighting the Blaze

More than 30 fire trucks have been relentlessly spraying water on the burning structure since Wednesday morning. Fire brigade personnel suspect that a short circuit on the upper floors may have triggered the fire. Thick clouds of smoke continue to rise, making it difficult to control the situation.

Kailash Hakim, president of the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association, acknowledged the severity of the fire. "The situation is critical. Firefighters and police teams are doing their best, but the flames are not letting up. We just pray that this fire is brought under control as soon as possible," he said.

Tragic Loss of Life

This fire incident follows another tragic event just a day earlier. On Tuesday, a worker lost his life due to suffocation after a fire broke out in the basement of the same building. Stored textiles fueled the flames, but that fire was brought under control within a few hours.

Now, as firefighters continue their battle against the raging inferno, traders and locals can only hope that the crisis will soon be over.


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