New Delhi: A major fire at the Alipore collectorate in Kolkata has destroyed around 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) linked to 15 Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies, prompting an investigation into the cause of the incident.
The blaze, which broke out on June 10 at the New Administrative Building in Alipore, has triggered a political row, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) demanding a thorough probe.
While the TMC questioned how the incident could occur despite existing safeguards, BJP leaders called for an impartial investigation, saying the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out.
Investigators, however, have urged caution, stating that forensic evidence and scientific analysis will determine whether the fire was caused by an electrical fault, accidental circumstances or any deliberate act.
According to officials from the Election Commission of India, the EVM strong room was located on the ninth floor of the building. The facility housed machines used in 10 Assembly constituencies during this year’s elections and five constituencies from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The affected Assembly segments include Satgachia, Bishnupur (SC), Kasba, Jadavpur, Tollyganj, Behala Purba, Behala Paschim, Maheshtala, Budge Budge and Metiaburuz.
Officials said the fire spread across the third, eighth and ninth floors, with the EVMs and other official records stored on the top floor.
West Bengal Minister of State for Fire and Emergency Services Kaushik Chowdhury said the pattern of the fire appeared unusual and that authorities were examining all possibilities.
“It does not appear to be a normal fire. We are examining whether there was any sabotage. It is still not clear how the fire reached the ninth floor,” he told reporters.
The South 24 Parganas district administration has filed a formal complaint, following which police registered a case and launched an investigation. Authorities said the exact cause of the fire will be established only after the forensic examination is completed.
