Like Takshashila, bylaws flouted at Shiv Shakti

Surat: The two-day inferno that challenged the fire brigade and destroyed textile products worth crores has again exposed irregularities in the construction of buildings here, as was the case with the May 2019 Takshashila Arcade fire.
It took nearly two days (Feb 26-27) for the Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES) and fire teams from industrial units in Hazira since firefighting trucks could not enter the Shiv Shakti Textile Market (SSTM) premises. The floor of the passage around the market was not only narrow but also weak and could not bear the weight of 40-tonne fire engines. There was a basement under the passage and its slab was weak, according to the preliminary assessment of SFES officials.
These fire engines are the key to spraying water long distances so that a fire within a building can be quickly contained. The fire engines could go only a few feet in front of the market and that too after removing sheds. Over half of the outer side of the market was inaccessible due to the weak slab and there was almost no space for firefighting vehicles to move.
The giant 834-shop market, which has a basement, ground, and four double-height storeys, has no space for the movement of firefighters in the centre as well. "There was a narrow passage and closely packed shops. The distance between two shops opposite each other is five to eight feet, with textile goods being kept outside shops as well, which let the fire spread," said an SFES official.
SSTM was built in 1995 and shops were later added in the basement. Space that was reserved for parking was used for shops. This was later regularized by payment of impact fees. "The slab of the basement shops was weak, due to which the heavy fire engines could not go into the premises. There was also no space for the movement of fire engines to the sides of the building and only a limited front portion was accessible," said a fire official.
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Firefighting system of adjacent markets not used
When fire engines could not enter the Shiv Shakti Textile Market (SSTM) campus from all sides, the firefighting systems of adjoining market buildings were also not used. SSTM is surrounded by textile markets. According to Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES), the firefighting systems of adjacent markets were working, but were not used due to the distance involved. The gap between the two markets is too narrow for a large fire truck. Firemen went to the upper floors of neighbouring markets to spray water from their fire engine. "The firefighting systems of neighbouring buildings were working but were not used due to the distance," said Basant Pareek, chief fire officer.