Surat Floods Wreck Saree Stock, Traders Sell by the Kilo

Surat, Gujarat — Sarees once worth thousands are now being sold by the kilo. This is the grim reality in Surat’s textile markets on Ring Road, where floodwaters from heavy rains 10 days ago have wreaked havoc, soaking crores worth of saree stock and dashing the hopes of traders just ahead of the festive season.

In markets like Raghukul, Kamela Garnala, Silk Plaza, and Anmol, basement shops were submerged after rainwater—mixed with backflow from a nearby creek—flooded entire blocks. Now, as the water has receded, the passageways of these once-bustling textile hubs in Surat resemble makeshift drying grounds, where traders have hung sarees from ropes and are using electric fans to dry the damp fabric.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my 25 years of business,” said Rajubhai Gupta, a trader in Raghukul Market. “The creek overflowed and rainwater from the ongoing metro construction site entered our shops. More than 500 shops are affected, and the damage runs into crores.”

The affected traders, some with no flood insurance, are left with no choice but to sell high-end sarees—originally priced at ₹1,000 to ₹2,000—for just ₹35 to ₹50 per kilo. According to Durgesh Chudewal, a resale broker, “One kilo includes about three sarees. It’s a distress sale, but we need to recover at least something to survive this season.”

Textile traders are under immense pressure as the upcoming Raksha Bandhan and festive season was expected to bring in substantial sales. However, the flood damage has rendered much of the stock unsellable in its original form, forcing desperate measures.

The scene is repeated across at least eight major textile markets. Soaked sarees are giving off a foul stench, and traders without alternative storage are struggling to preserve what’s left. Those without insurance are staring at total financial ruin.

“No government official has visited us yet,” another trader lamented. “We pay taxes, run businesses, and employ workers. In times of disaster, we feel abandoned.”