Major fire breaks out in saree market in Surat, no casualties reported

A major fire broke out on Thursday in a commercial multi-storey building housing a market of sarees on Puna Kumbharia road in Surat and 80 fire tenders have been rushed to the spot. "The fire erupted at Orchid tower in Vipul House, a market of sarees, located in front of Sardar market in Puna Kumbhania area of the city," a fire brigade official said.

The number of people trapped inside the premises was yet to be ascertained, officials said, adding that no injuries or casualties have been reported so far. The fire brigade has declared a 'brigade call' and deployed 170 fire fighters and almost 80 fire vehicles were on the spot, they said. When more than 16 fire engines are called on a spot, a Brigade Call is declared.

The fire broke out at around 10 am on the fourth floor of the building, soon after the complex opened for the day's work, an official said. "There are 12 floors in the building which mostly have cloth material establishments," the official said. The cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained, he said.