Surat: A fire broke out in the basement of Shivshakti Textile Market, located on Ring Road, leading to chaos and panic since it was market hours and a large number of people were inside. As the fire suddenly erupted, people ran outside to save their lives. It is being learned that the fire started after a blast in the AC compressor.

As soon as the fire was reported, 20 to 25 fire department vehicles rushed to the spot and began efforts to control the blaze. However, one person died due to suffocation from the smoke. Notably, three fire incidents have been reported in Surat in the last 24 hours.

Four to five shops in the basement caught fire, causing thick smoke to spread widely. As a result, many people in the market experienced suffocation. The fire team managed to bring the fire under control, but due to heavy smoke, people fled in panic. It is known that the textile market lacks proper fire safety measures. Although fire equipment has been installed, it was found to be non-functional.

Fire officer Krishna Modh stated that the fire appears to have been caused by a short circuit in a basement shop. More than 50 people were in the basement when the fire broke out. Shop owners, customers, and traders rushed out as soon as they noticed the fire. Firefighters assisted some in escaping. The fire had spread inside, but it has now been brought under control. Around 20 to 25 fire vehicles from different stations were deployed to contain the blaze. DeshGujarat