Gujarat: Major fire engulfs 30 shops in Panchkuva area of Ahmedabad, brought under control

Ahmedabad: A major fire broke out in the Panchkuva area on Wednesday afternoon, gutting over 30 shops and triggering a massive firefighting operation. No casualties were reported, said an officer of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES).The blaze started around 1.14pm in a cloth shop located opposite a fire station. Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, officials said the flames spread rapidly to nearby establishments, engulfing many shops within minutes.On receiving the alert, teams from the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and launched a large-scale firefighting and rescue operation. A total of 32 fire vehicles were deployed, including 14 water bowsers with 20KL capacity, two mini fire tenders, five water tenders, and multiple first responder vehicles.Around 121 fire personnel were involved in the operation. The team comprised 82 firemen, nine leading hands, 29 drivers, and several senior officers, including station officers, divisional officers, and chief fire officials. Senior civic officials also monitored the situation on the ground. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing the situation under control. Cooling operations were under way at the site to prevent any flare-ups.Officials said timely response by the fire department helped prevent a major tragedy, as the area is densely packed with commercial units. Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries or fatalities were reported.Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze. Additional safety measures have been put in place in the area as a precaution.