4,000 EVMs Reduced to Ashes in Kolkata Blaze, Probe Ordered Into Cause

A massive fire at a government building in Kolkata has triggered fresh political controversy and renewed debate over election transparency after nearly 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) linked to recent West Bengal elections were destroyed.

The blaze broke out on June 10 at the South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad building in Alipore and quickly escalated into one of the most serious incidents involving election related storage infrastructure in recent memory. Firefighters battled the flames continuously for nearly 24 hours before bringing the situation under control. No casualties were reported, but the damage was extensive.

According to preliminary findings, the fire is suspected to have originated from an air conditioner short circuit on the lower floors of the building. However, what has drawn attention is the unusual spread of the flames. Reports suggest the fire moved in a pattern that appeared to skip certain levels before eventually reaching the upper floors where a secured strong room housed EVMs from 10 scrutinized constituencies .

Along with the electronic voting machines, several old administrative records and official documents were also destroyed.

The incident has quickly taken a political turn. BJP minister Koushik Chowdhury questioned the sequence of events and publicly called for a deeper investigation, arguing that the unusual movement of the fire warrants examination beyond accidental causes. His remarks have intensified demands for accountability and transparency.

Particular attention has focused on constituencies that witnessed close electoral contests. Among them is Rajarhat Newtown , where the BJP reportedly secured victory by a narrow margin of 316 votes , following booth level disputes and heightened political scrutiny.

Authorities have since registered an FIR and initiated a forensic investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess whether any foul play was involved.

While election officials have not indicated any impact on declared results, the destruction of such a large number of EVMs has raised broader questions about storage protocols, record preservation, and public confidence in electoral processes .

As forensic teams continue their examination, the incident is expected to remain under close political and public watch in the days ahead.