Fire Erupts Again at Surat’s Raj Textile Market, Seventh Floor Engulfed

When flames erupted once again at Surat’s Raj Textile Market on Wednesday morning, trader Harshil Patel was among the first to rush toward the building he has worked in for nearly 17 years. “I saw smoke rising from the seventh floor and my heart just sank,” he recalls. His small synthetic-fabric shop was on the floor just below the fire. “We have survived two fires before, but this time the heat felt different… stronger, faster. I couldn’t even get close.”

The fire, suspected to have started from the lift wiring, spread upwards like a spark racing through dry grass. Within minutes, the upper floors were engulfed. Part of the outer wall near several shops collapsed, sending debris crashing onto the road. “The noise was terrifying,” says a nearby worker, who had just arrived for duty. “We kept shouting the names of our colleagues, hoping no one was inside.”

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More than 22 fire tenders and over 100 firefighters battled intense flames for nearly 10 hours, using breathing equipment to cut through the toxic black smoke of burning synthetic cloth. Fire officer R.K. Chauhan said, “The smoke was so heavy that visibility dropped to almost zero. Our team couldn’t enter without oxygen support.”

For traders, the emotional toll was overwhelming. Tears rolled down the cheeks of 62-year-old fabric seller Jivraj Bhai as he watched the market burn. “I built this business with my father. Every bundle of cloth inside is a memory. Now it’s all ash.”

While no casualties were reported, the economic impact is severe. Many shop owners operated on thin profit margins, carrying loans and credit-based stock. “If insurance doesn’t support us fully,” says another trader, “many of us won’t recover.”

The recurring fires in Surat’s textile markets have now become a painful pattern. Markets built decades ago, weak wiring networks, cramped storage, and highly flammable synthetic materials continue to put thousands at risk. Local traders are demanding strict fire audits, improved electrical systems, and safety drills. “We don’t want sympathy,” Harshil says quietly. “We just want safety so our livelihoods don’t burn again.”