📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Textiles
Crime
Arson in Surat's Cloth Market Over Unpaid Wages Destroys ₹24 Crore of Stock
✍️ Amar Ujala · Gujarat
🗓 23 Sep 2026, 10:00 AM
👁 12
A fire set in Surat’s textile market, allegedly in retaliation for unpaid wages of ₹10,000, razed stock worth about ₹24 crore.
Surat, Gujarat – Late on Tuesday night, a blaze broke out in the bustling cloth market of Surat, reportedly ignited as a protest against unpaid wages amounting to ₹10,000. According to eyewitnesses, the arsonist used two small containers filled with petrol, priced at roughly ₹150 per litre, to start the fire, which quickly spread across stalls laden with textiles.
The inferno consumed merchandise estimated at ₹24 crore, including a wide range of fabrics that form the backbone of the city’s garment trade. Local shop owners described the loss as devastating, fearing a ripple effect on supply chains and employment in the region.
Police arrived within minutes and cordoned off the area, launching an investigation into the alleged motive of wage retaliation. Senior officials confirmed that a formal FIR has been filed, and forensic teams are collecting evidence to identify the perpetrator.
The Gujarat Fire Service reported that the fire was brought under control after several hours, but the market remains closed for damage assessment and repairs. Authorities have urged any witnesses to come forward and have promised swift legal action against those responsible.
The incident underscores growing tensions in the informal sector, where delayed payments can trigger extreme responses, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of labour laws.
The inferno consumed merchandise estimated at ₹24 crore, including a wide range of fabrics that form the backbone of the city’s garment trade. Local shop owners described the loss as devastating, fearing a ripple effect on supply chains and employment in the region.
Police arrived within minutes and cordoned off the area, launching an investigation into the alleged motive of wage retaliation. Senior officials confirmed that a formal FIR has been filed, and forensic teams are collecting evidence to identify the perpetrator.
The Gujarat Fire Service reported that the fire was brought under control after several hours, but the market remains closed for damage assessment and repairs. Authorities have urged any witnesses to come forward and have promised swift legal action against those responsible.
The incident underscores growing tensions in the informal sector, where delayed payments can trigger extreme responses, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of labour laws.