Firefighters swallowed the three floors of Surat and rescued the 18th floor

On April 11, 2025, a fire broke out in a building in Surat Vesu area. Image source: ScreenGrab: X/@ani

An official said a fire broke out in a residential tower in Surat on the morning of Friday (April 11, 2025) and 18 people were rescued and trapped on its terrace have been rescued.

Surat Mayor Daxesh Mavani said the fire began around 8 a.m. on the seventh floor of the multi-storey Happy Excellence Building in the city’s Vesu area and soon swallowed up two more top floors.

Mr Mawani said: “The Surat Fire Department helped the residents climb down. Eighteen people were trapped on the terrace.

The harsh family of Gujarat Secretary of State Sanghavi, who lived across the building, arrived at the scene and oversaw the rescue operation.

A rescued resident said many went to the terrace to save themselves from smoke and flames.

“It was impossible to climb down the stairs due to the smoke. So we went to the terrace. Later, the fire brigade staff first put out the fire and then wrapped wet towels around our faces.”

Mr Sanghavi said he jogged in the garden when he saw the fire near his residence.

He said the fire brigade first helped 40 residents climb down the stairs and then rescued other residents from the terrace.

Sanghavi added: “Many of the building residents are well-known to me. Nearly 50 fire brigade personnel and five fire vehicles arrived at the scene. They safely evacuated 18 people trapped on the terrace. The fire brigade personnel did a commendable job.”