Fire Breaks Out in Textile Godown in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad : A major fire erupted in the basement of a textile godown located in the residential area of Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, early Tuesday morning. The incident, which occurred near Avni Bungalows behind D Mart, prompted the swift response of nine fire tenders to the scene. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the blaze ignited discussions regarding the presence of industrial facilities in residential zones.

The godown, identified as belonging to UNITED18, housed a substantial amount of highly combustible textile material. The fire quickly spread, instilling fear among residents of Vijayalaxmi Society in Chandkheda. Firefighters from the Chandkheda Fire Station, accompanied by ambulance services, arrived promptly to combat the inferno, which had engulfed the basement and reached the first floor.

Efforts to control the fire included the deployment of water cannons and the use of blowers to disperse thick smoke from the basement. Firefighters continued operations for several hours to ensure the area was thoroughly cooled and smoke-free.

Local residents expressed concern over the presence of industrial facilities in residential neighborhoods. Jeevanbhai Chauhan, chairman of Vijayalakshmi Society, pointed out that the construction of the godown in 2016 violated regulations prohibiting such establishments in residential areas. Despite representations made to the Municipal Corporation, little action had been taken, leading to ongoing safety concerns.

Anubhai Parmar, another resident, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the potential risks posed by having industrial operations near residential homes. He highlighted additional issues such as inadequate drainage, which further compounded safety worries.

Divisional Fire Officer Kaizad Dastur indicated that an investigation into whether the textile godown possessed a valid fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) was underway. He noted that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s estate department had been informed of the incident, suggesting potential regulatory oversight in the approval and monitoring of such facilities.