In April 1837, a fire broke out in the Indian city of Surat, then under British East India Company rule. It resulted in more than 500 deaths and the destruction of 9,737 houses in a 9+3⁄4-mile (16 km) radius. It was the most destructive fire in the history of the city.[1]
1837 Surat fire
Date
24 April 1837 (1837-04-24) – 26 April 1837 (1837-04-26)
At the time of the fire in 1837, Surat was under the control of the British East India Company. At 5pm on 24 April, a jar of boiling pitch was spilt and some of the woodwork caught on fire at a house of one of the leading Parsis in Machhalipith neighbourhood.[1] The neighbours refused to allow water from their wells to be used to extinguish the fire.[2] The fire quickly spread to the densely packed neighbouring houses, which had timber frames and wooden eaves overhanging the narrow streets. Within a few hours, the fire spread to an area of three miles (5 km) due to heavy wind from the north. At night, the large masses of smoke lit by the fire were visible from a distance of twenty to thirty miles (32 to 48 km). At daybreak on 25 April, the fire's spread shifted due to wind from the southwest. At about 2pm, the fire was at its height. The fire declined thereafter and ended in the morning on 26 April. The fire had destroyed houses in a 9+3⁄4-mile (16 km) radius, about three-fourths of the city.[1][3]
Damage
Houses destroyed by fire in each neighbourhood of Surat[4]
Neighbourhood
Houses destroyed
City
6250
Machhalipith
259
Rahia Soni Chaklo
647
Kelapith and Kanpith
1174
Rani Talav
363
Warifalia
998
Sangariawad
390
Bhagatalav
581
Kapatia Chaklo
876
Gopipura
892
Suburbs
3123
Navapura
1880
Haripura
68
Salabatpura
524
Begampura
721
Total
9373
Apart from the more than 500 people who died in the fire,[2][3] 49 additional dead were found. That number includes seven people who died due to the change in the fire's direction on 25 April, 32 people who died while saving their property, and ten people who had tried to save themselves by jumping in a pond or well.[1]
The total economic loss could not be estimated. A total of 9,373 houses were destroyed. Of those, 6,250 were in the city proper and 3,123 in the suburbs. Placing the average cost of a house at ₹500 (equivalent to ₹267,177 in 2020), the total loss amounted to about ₹4,686,500 (equivalent to ₹2,504,251,760 in 2020).[1][5]
Relief
The British Government granted ₹50,000 (equivalent to ₹26,717,719 in 2020) for relief, while private donors collected ₹125,000 (equivalent to ₹66,794,296 in 2020) in Bombay.[1]£1,000 (equivalent to £96,672 in 2021) were collected in London for relief work.[6]
Aftermath
After the fire, Surat was affected by a heavy flood in August 1837. Due to these disasters, Parsi, Jain, and Hindu traders moved to Bombay. Later, Bombay surpassed Surat to become the major port of the west coast of India. The city continued to be affected by several fires in subsequent years.[1]
^ abcdefgGujarat State Gazetteers: Surat District (2nd (Revised in 1962), 1st (1877) ed.). Ahmedabad: Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. 1962. pp. 976–978.
^ abThe Annual Register: World Events 1837-1838. 1838. pp. 82–83.
^ abBartlett, Esquire Thomas (1841). The New Tablet of Memory; Or, Chronicle of Remarkable Events; with the Dates of Inventions and Discoveries in the Arts and Sciences; and Biographical Notices, Etc. [With Plates.]. Thomas Kelly. p. 475.
^Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Gujarát Surat and Broach. Printed at the Government Central Press. 1877. pp. 316–317. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Haynes, Douglas E. (1991). "Part Two: Surat City and the Larger World". Rhetoric and Ritual in Colonial India. UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 40.
^The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, China, and Australia. Parbury, Allen, and Company. 1837. p. 305.
April 24, 2023
1837, surat, fire, april, 1837, fire, broke, indian, city, surat, then, under, british, east, india, company, rule, resulted, more, than, deaths, destruction, houses, mile, radius, most, destructive, fire, history, city, date24, april, 1837, 1837, april, 1837,. In April 1837 a fire broke out in the Indian city of Surat then under British East India Company rule It resulted in more than 500 deaths and the destruction of 9 737 houses in a 9 3 4 mile 16 km radius It was the most destructive fire in the history of the city 1 1837 Surat fireDate24 April 1837 1837 04 24 26 April 1837 1837 04 26 Time5 00 pm ISTLocationSurat British India now in Gujarat India Coordinates21 12 03 N 72 49 26 E 21 20083 N 72 82389 E 21 20083 72 82389 Coordinates 21 12 03 N 72 49 26 E 21 20083 N 72 82389 E 21 20083 72 82389CauseHouse fireDeathsMore than 500Property damageest 4 686 500 equivalent to 2 504 251 760 in 2020 Surat circa 1850 Contents 1 Fire 2 Damage 3 Relief 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 ReferencesFire EditAt the time of the fire in 1837 Surat was under the control of the British East India Company At 5 pm on 24 April a jar of boiling pitch was spilt and some of the woodwork caught on fire at a house of one of the leading Parsis in Machhalipith neighbourhood 1 The neighbours refused to allow water from their wells to be used to extinguish the fire 2 The fire quickly spread to the densely packed neighbouring houses which had timber frames and wooden eaves overhanging the narrow streets Within a few hours the fire spread to an area of three miles 5 km due to heavy wind from the north At night the large masses of smoke lit by the fire were visible from a distance of twenty to thirty miles 32 to 48 km At daybreak on 25 April the fire s spread shifted due to wind from the southwest At about 2 pm the fire was at its height The fire declined thereafter and ended in the morning on 26 April The fire had destroyed houses in a 9 3 4 mile 16 km radius about three fourths of the city 1 3 Damage EditHouses destroyed by fire in each neighbourhood of Surat 4 Neighbourhood Houses destroyedCity 6250Machhalipith 259Rahia Soni Chaklo 647Kelapith and Kanpith 1174Rani Talav 363Warifalia 998Sangariawad 390Bhagatalav 581Kapatia Chaklo 876Gopipura 892Suburbs 3123Navapura 1880Haripura 68Salabatpura 524Begampura 721Total 9373Apart from the more than 500 people who died in the fire 2 3 49 additional dead were found That number includes seven people who died due to the change in the fire s direction on 25 April 32 people who died while saving their property and ten people who had tried to save themselves by jumping in a pond or well 1 The total economic loss could not be estimated A total of 9 373 houses were destroyed Of those 6 250 were in the city proper and 3 123 in the suburbs Placing the average cost of a house at 500 equivalent to 267 177 in 2020 the total loss amounted to about 4 686 500 equivalent to 2 504 251 760 in 2020 1 5 Relief EditThe British Government granted 50 000 equivalent to 26 717 719 in 2020 for relief while private donors collected 125 000 equivalent to 66 794 296 in 2020 in Bombay 1 1 000 equivalent to 96 672 in 2021 were collected in London for relief work 6 Aftermath EditAfter the fire Surat was affected by a heavy flood in August 1837 Due to these disasters Parsi Jain and Hindu traders moved to Bombay Later Bombay surpassed Surat to become the major port of the west coast of India The city continued to be affected by several fires in subsequent years 1 See also Edit2019 Surat fireReferences Edit a b c d e f g Gujarat State Gazetteers Surat District 2nd Revised in 1962 1st 1877 ed Ahmedabad Directorate of Government Printing Stationery and Publications Gujarat State 1962 pp 976 978 a b The Annual Register World Events 1837 1838 1838 pp 82 83 a b Bartlett Esquire Thomas 1841 The New Tablet of Memory Or Chronicle of Remarkable Events with the Dates of Inventions and Discoveries in the Arts and Sciences and Biographical Notices Etc With Plates Thomas Kelly p 475 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency Gujarat Surat and Broach Printed at the Government Central Press 1877 pp 316 317 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Haynes Douglas E 1991 Part Two Surat City and the Larger World Rhetoric and Ritual in Colonial India UC Press E Books Collection 1982 2004 Berkeley University of California Press p 40 The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India China and Australia Parbury Allen and Company 1837 p 305 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1837 Surat fire amp oldid 1151471606, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
