Surat: A major fire at a textile unit in the city’s Sachin area on Wednesday led to a six-hour firefighting operation, as thick smoke engulfed the area.The blaze started on the third floor of Gopi Knitting Pvt Ltd in Hojiwala Industrial Estate. Fire officials said the flames were brought under control before they could spread to other parts of the building or adjoining units.No casualties were reported as the factory was shut and no workers were present when the fire erupted.Teams from Surat Fire and Emergency Services, along with personnel from nearby industrial clusters, battled the blaze. Around 15 fire tenders and multiple teams were deployed at the site.Officials said a large quantity of greige fabric was destroyed, and the intense heat caused the steel structure of the shed to bend. However, materials and machinery on the ground, first and second floors were saved.Cooling operations continued for several hours to prevent any flare-up. Authorities said timely action helped avert the fire from spreading to nearby units in the industrial estate, a major hub for textile and chemical industries.
