Surat Floods : CAIT seeks relief as traders report massive losses

SURAT : Surat’s record-breaking rainfall and widespread flooding have dealt a severe blow to the city’s retail and textile economy, with traders reporting losses worth hundreds of crores as rainwater inundated markets, warehouses and manufacturing units. The Confederation of All India Trade (CAIT) has urged the Gujarat government to immediately assess the damage and announce a financial relief package for affected businesses.

CAIT Gujarat Chapter President Pramod Bhagat has submitted a representation to Deputy Chief Minister and Industries Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar, demanding an official survey of losses caused by the 12 to 14 inches of rainfall that brought the city to a standstill.

The biggest setback has been reported from Poddar Plaza Mobile and Electronics Market on Varachha Road, where traders have estimated losses of nearly ₹200 crore, though the figure is yet to be officially verified. Basement and ground-floor shops were submerged after heavy rains, damaging mobile phones, laptops, televisions, electronic gadgets and accessories worth lakhs of rupees.

“Many shops were filled with waist-deep water, leaving traders with no time to shift expensive goods. After the water receded, shops were covered in mud, forcing owners to spend hours salvaging whatever they could,” traders said.

Poddar Plaza serves as a major wholesale and retail electronics hub for South Gujarat, supplying products to traders from Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Bharuch, Tapi and Dang districts. The flooding has brought business operations to a halt and may disrupt supplies across the region in the coming days.

According to CAIT, preliminary estimates indicate that more than 1,000 traders across Surat have suffered losses. Besides Poddar Plaza, the electronics market on Varachha Road, Raghukul Market, Bombay Market and retail hubs in Adajan, Begampura, Salabatpura, Jhampa Bazaar and Katargam were among the worst affected.

The textile sector also suffered extensive damage as water entered weaving, embroidery, zari, lace and powerloom units in Bhathena, Anjana Farm, Udhna, Limbayat, Dindoli and Godadara, damaging raw materials, finished goods and machinery.

“It is extremely difficult for small traders to recover from such a disaster. The government must immediately conduct a damage survey, announce financial assistance and implement permanent drainage solutions to prevent recurring losses,” Bhagat said.

CAIT warned that unless timely relief is provided, the financial impact of the floods could affect Surat’s trade and industry for months.