Surat: A total of 28 residents were rescued by Surat Fire and Emergency Services (SFES) after the staircase of a four-storey residential apartment, B Wing of Chintamani Apartment, Katargam’s Limbachiya Faliya, collapsed, trapping people inside the building.Officials said the fire control room received an emergency call at around 7.52 pm on Friday, reporting that a section of the stairway had given way and that multiple occupants were unable to move out safely as access routes were blocked. The control room immediately alerted Katargam fire station and coordinated a rescue operation, dispatching fire and rescue teams to the spot. As the operation scaled up, nearby fire station teams too joined.On reaching the site, rescue personnel carried out an on-ground assessment and found that the damaged staircase had obstructed exit points, leaving at least 28 individuals stranded within the premises. Firefighters then began evacuation efforts using rescue equipment to reach those cut off by the collapse.Ladders were deployed to access affected areas and create alternate evacuation paths. Fire personnel evacuated residents one by one in a controlled manner, ensuring safe movement amid the compromised structure and minimising the risk of further mishaps. The rescue operation continued until all identified occupants were brought out.“Few residents were rescued from the window by placing a ladder in adjoining building and creating a bridge. An elderly woman rescued by tying her on a bed and then lifting her with the bed,” said an SFES official.Authorities said the area was secured after the operation and a detailed structural safety assessment would be required to prevent any further incidents. The residents were issued notices in the past by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to evacuate the building due to its dilapidated condition. Out of the 28 apartments in the building, many were locked as the residents were out for Ganpati immersion.
