Hundreds trapped as fire breaks at textile street in Surat

SURAT: Two persons suffered serious burns and several were trapped when a fire broke out on the fourth floor of a building in the crowded textile street on Ring Road on Friday.
Short circuit is believed to be the reason for the fire that broke out in the Trade House building located just opposite Mandarwaja fire station at around 5.40 pm and engulfed the whole floor and spreading smoke to the fifth and sixth floor.
Close to 100 fire brigade staff was pressed for rescue operations along with four fire fighters, three water tankers and three hydraulic platforms to evacuate people from the building.
According to Irfan Sheikh, emergency 108 officer, 25 people were rescued including one with serious injuries were shifted to the New Civil Hospital. People were seen being rescued with hydraulic platforms. Several people were sent on the terrace and the blaze was controlled late in the evening, said chief fire officer Pankaj Patel.