A few vendors were permitted to enter the Shiv Shakti Textile Market in Surat on Friday to inspect the damage, hours after the fire that had engulfed various areas of the market for three days had been extinguished.
In the meantime, a relief committee has been established by the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA), and donations are being sought for the traders who have sustained significant losses. MLA from Surat’s Varachha district, Kishor Kanani, has also written to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to ask for assistance for the textile merchants.
On Tuesday, 25th February, the first fire incident was reported on the premises. A new fire broke out at the market on Wednesday, 26th February and lasted until the next afternoon. An hour after the fire was extinguished, another fire started on the property, which Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) fire department workers eventually put out late Thursday night, 27th February, at around 10 pm.
Fire crews were stationed in the market area on Friday, 28th February, in case of problems. According to fire department sources, the fire destroyed most of the market’s 825 stores, costing several hundred crores in damages. The fire destroyed thousands of meters of synthetic fabrics, such as scarves, dress materials and sarees.
To assist the traders impacted by the fire, FOSTTA called a meeting with its 41 directors present. The Shiv Shakti Textile Market Relief Committee was established as a result of the conference, and it would use public donations to support the traders.
