Surat: Fire Breaks Out at Shanker Textile Mills, Fire Officer Critically Injured

Surat : A major fire at the Shanker textile mills in Udhyognagar, Udhana, on Tuesday morning left one fire officer critically injured and caused extensive damage to the facility. Sub-fire officer Manoj Shukla sustained serious injuries to his waist and legs after falling from a collapsing tin-shed structure while battling the blaze.

“The fire broke out around 6:30 am in the stenter machine and quickly spread through the entire mill,” said a fire official who requested anonymity. “The flames were intense and made it difficult to gain control.” Seven fire tenders were deployed from across Surat to combat the inferno, which took over three hours to bring under control.

According to witnesses, thick black smoke billowed from the mill, visible from several kilometers away. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Shukla, along with his team, was attempting to control the fire from the second floor when the tin-shed structure beneath him suddenly gave way. “He fell with great force and sustained severe injuries,” stated another fire official. “He was immediately rushed to the government hospital but was later shifted to a private hospital due to the seriousness of his injuries.”

“Manoj is a brave officer who always puts duty first,” said a colleague, visibly shaken. “He has saved countless lives during his career, and we are all praying for his speedy recovery.”