A major fire broke out in Ahmedabad’s bustling scrap market (Kabadi Market) in Mirzapur late on Diwali night, causing widespread destruction as the flames, fueled by firecrackers.
The Ahmedabad Fire and Safety Department mounted a large-scale response, deploying 21 fire engines and over 100 firefighters to contain the inferno. No casualties were reported, though the fire consumed about half of the market, resulting in extensive property damage.
The fire department received an emergency call around 1.14 am, according to officials. “Upon arrival, the team found the flames had already engulfed multiple vehicles and shops within the market,” a fire official reported. Initially, five engines arrived on the scene, but as the fire escalated, additional resources were brought in.
After battling the flames for hours, the firefighting team managed to bring the situation under control by early morning, using around 4 to 5 lakh litres of water. Cooling operations continued until 9 a.m. to prevent any potential reignition.
The blaze affected a significant portion of the market, particularly shops selling secondhand goods like old clothes and vehicles. The intensity of the fire was such that sparks spread to a neighbouring building, briefly igniting a smaller blaze, which the fire brigade quickly extinguished.
Due to the dense smoke and close proximity of combustible items, controlling the situation proved challenging and required extensive effort.
Jayesh Khadia, Additional Chief Fire Officer, shared, “The incident occurred late at night, prompting us to send 21 fire engines with a team of 100 firefighters to the spot. While no casualties were reported, five to six shops were completely gutted. Our team remained on site for cooling operations until around 9 am.”
Mithul Mistry, Additional Chief Fire Officer, said, “During the initial investigation, it was revealed that the fire broke out due to firecrackers. According to local sources, we learned that someone was bursting crackers nearby, which ignited the scrap stored in the shop. A dispute also broke out between the scrap yard shopkeepers regarding the incident.”
Diwali night saw an uptick in fire incidents across Gujarat, with similar cases reported in other cities. Local authorities have urged residents to take extra precautions with firecrackers to prevent such accidents, especially in areas with flammable goods.
The following figures represent the total of 80 calls handled by the fire brigade from 6 am on October 31, 2024, to 6 am on November 1, 2024. The distribution of calls over these 24 hours is as follows:
Calls by time:
Morning 6 am to 2 pm: 7 calls
Afternoon 2 pm to 10 pm: 25 calls
Night 10 pm to 6 am: 48 calls
Total Calls: 80
Calls by Type:
Garbage fires: 35
Factory fires: 2
Short circuits: 3
Shop fires: 8
Residential fires: 20
School fires: 1
Electric distribution points (DP): 2
Tree fires: 1
Office fires: 1
Scrap market fires: 1
Waste fires: 1
Warehouse fires: 3
Vehicle fires: 2
Total: 80
This breakdown shows that the number of calls was highest at night, with garbage fires being the most frequent.