Nearly seven hours after a major fire broke out in an eight-storey commercial building in Surat on Thursday morning, the authorities have brought the fire under control. “There are small flames to be extinguished, but the fire has almost been doused and the building is being cooled,” M.K. Das, Surat’s Municipal Commissioner, told The Hindu .
The fire started in the godown of Orchid Tower, a textile complex in Surat. Although the cause is still under investigation, a short circuit seems to have led to the massive conflagration. “Although the godwon had offices, they stored stocks of synthetic sarees, which rapidly caught fire. As per initial reports, the structure of the building is intact and is not likely to collapse. However, we are not giving a safety certificate to the building. We would conduct out inquiry on Friday,” Mr. Das said.
No casualty or injury was reported in the fire, which started around 10 a.m. The 20 people present in he building at the time were safely evacuated, Mr. Das said. Nearly 10,000 litres of water was used in dousing the raging flames. Fire engines of the National Thermal Power Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. were also pressed into service, in addition to those of the municipal body.
