Ahmedabad: A massive fire erupted on Monday morning at the Shangrila-2 Arcade near Shyamal Crossroads in Ahmedabad, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. The blaze, which started on the ground floor, quickly spread through the four-storey commercial building, trapping several people on the upper levels. Fortunately, fire officials confirmed that all 25 individuals trapped in a gymnasium on the top floor were rescued safely, and no casualties were reported.
The fire reportedly broke out around 10:15 a.m. near an ATM facility inside a private bank branch located on the ground floor. According to security guard Shrikant Tripathi, the flames intensified rapidly, giving bank staff and visitors very little time to evacuate before smoke and fire engulfed the parking area and surged toward the higher floors. The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) dispatched 38 fire tenders to the scene to combat the blaze and manage the evacuation.
Divisional Fire Officer Kaizad Dastoor stated that the primary challenge was the thick smoke that had filled the upper levels, particularly affecting a gym on the fourth floor where the 25 people were stranded. Fire personnel used specialized equipment to reach the top floor and bring the occupants down to safety. While the building’s interior and several parked two-wheelers suffered significant damage, the structural integrity of the arcade is being assessed.
The fire was brought under control within a few hours, and cooling operations continued throughout the afternoon. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the blaze, with early indications pointing toward a technical fault or short circuit near the ATM area. The incident has led to temporary traffic diversions near the busy Shyamal Crossroads as emergency teams cleared the area.
