Lately, Surat has been undergoing so many fire tragedies, such as those which had earlier been called the textile hub of India. All these are mainly in textile industries and industrial areas, resulting in heavy monetary losses as well as safety and infrastructure concerns.
The most alarming event happened a few weeks ago when a rampant fire razed more than 500 shops located within the Shivshakti Textile Market. More recently, two fire incidents erupted in the Sachin Hojiwala area and the GIDC industrial zone, putting more light on the city’s highly vulnerable industrial sectors.
The Shivshakti Textile Market Disaster
What happened at the Shivshakti Textile Market can only be described as a disaster. Over 500 shops belonging to hardworking traders were destroyed. The incident left the trading community gasping with a loss of value in the crores. Luckily, there were no reported injuries since the event took place during the Holi holiday when the market was relatively empty. Yet, the burden was heavy, both emotionally and financially, on an affected trader.
Major Culprit: Short Circuits
In most of them, it has been seen that short circuits are the main reasons behind these fiery disasters. Take the incident that happened recently at Parth Plastic and Platinum International Textile Company, where a short circuit occurred from the nearby DP (Distribution Point) causing a major fire. Within a short time, flames engulfed two adjacent companies and caused lots of loss. The owners of these companies voiced their anguish as many incidents could be avoided through proper maintenance and adherence to safety procedures as far as electrical facilities are concerned.
The New Twist in the Sachin GIDC Fire
A fire incident happened near Sachin GIDC when an accumulating waste cloth rag godown was set ablaze. The cause is still not verified, but rumors were rife regarding the illegal nature of operations undertaken in that godown. This led further complications in the matter since the local authorities inquired further. The fire crew did their part early enough, but the damage had already happened.