Fire Minister Kaushik Chowdhury said the blaze appeared “unusual”, noting that it spread to upper floors while seemingly bypassing some intermediate levels.
BY PC Bureau
June 12: A massive fire that engulfed a multi-storey government building in Kolkata’s Alipore area has destroyed around 4,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in 10 constituencies during the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, triggering a police investigation and raising questions over the unusual manner in which the blaze spread through the structure.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon at the nine-storey government building that houses the office of the South 24 Parganas district administration, the Zilla Parishad office and several other government departments. More than 20 fire tenders battled the blaze for nearly 24 hours before it was brought under control. While no casualties or injuries were reported, the destruction of a large number of EVMs has sparked political debate and intense public scrutiny.
EVMs Used in Recent Polls Destroyed
West Bengal Minister of State for Fire and Emergency Services Kaushik Chowdhury, who visited the site on Thursday, confirmed that approximately 4,000 EVMs stored in the building had been gutted in the blaze.
“These EVMs had been used in 10 Assembly constituencies during this year’s elections. Around 4,000 machines have been destroyed,” the minister told reporters.
Election officials clarified that the machines were not in active use and had been kept in storage after the completion of the electoral process. According to established Election Commission protocols, EVMs used in elections are preserved for a specified period after the declaration of results to address any legal challenges or election petitions before they are eventually refurbished or decommissioned.
The destruction of the machines, however, has inevitably fuelled speculation because of their association with the recently concluded polls.
4,000 EVs Burnt in West Bengal
EVMs Destroyed in Massive Fire Accident at 9-Storey Government Building in Kolkata Alipur pic.twitter.com/MkwfzFyTcu
— mr ayush (@theayushvishwa) June 12, 2026
Questions Over the Fire’s Spread
What has particularly puzzled investigators is the pattern in which the fire spread through the building.
According to the minister, the blaze was first detected on the second and third floors. However, firefighters later found extensive damage on the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth floors, while some intermediate sections appeared to have been comparatively less affected.
“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 and tenth floors without causing similar damage to the floors in between,” Chowdhury said.
Fire officials said that although the main flames had been extinguished by Thursday morning, several “pocket fires” continued to erupt inside the smoke-filled structure, necessitating prolonged cooling operations.
Experts note that fires in older government buildings can sometimes spread through concealed shafts, cable ducts, false ceilings and ventilation systems, making the eventual forensic examination critical in determining the actual sequence of events.
READ: Haryana Judge Duped of ₹52.81 Lakh in Tinder Honeytrap Scam
FIR Registered, Forensic Probe Begins
The South 24 Parganas district administration lodged a complaint with Alipore police station following the incident, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).
Police teams, forensic experts and fire investigators have since begun examining the site to determine whether the blaze was the result of an electrical short circuit, negligence or deliberate sabotage.
Authorities have sealed off parts of the building and restricted access to prevent contamination of evidence. CCTV footage from the premises and surrounding areas is expected to be examined, while officials are also likely to review maintenance records, electrical wiring layouts and the building’s fire safety mechanisms.
Investigators are expected to focus on key questions:
- Where exactly did the fire originate?
- How did it spread to higher floors?
- Were all mandatory fire safety protocols in place?
- Did the building’s firefighting systems function properly?
- Is there any evidence suggesting foul play?
Officials said the forensic report would be crucial in establishing the cause of the fire.
Damage Beyond EVMs
Apart from the EVMs, authorities are assessing the extent of damage to government records, administrative documents, computers and office infrastructure housed within the building.
Given the number of departments functioning from the premises, restoration efforts could take considerable time. The administration is also working to determine whether any essential public records have been affected and whether backup systems exist for damaged files.
The incident has once again brought attention to the condition of fire safety infrastructure in government buildings and the need for periodic audits, particularly in facilities that store sensitive materials and critical records.
Political Reactions and Social Media Speculation
The destruction of thousands of EVMs linked to recently concluded elections quickly became a talking point on social media, with users questioning the timing of the incident and demanding greater transparency in the investigation.
Several posts alleged the possibility of a cover-up, while others called for an independent inquiry to rule out any wrongdoing. Political commentators and opposition voices also demanded that authorities disclose details of the storage arrangements and security measures that were in place at the facility.
At the same time, officials have urged the public against drawing premature conclusions before the forensic investigation is completed.
Under Election Commission guidelines, EVMs used in elections are retained after polling and counting to address potential election disputes and judicial scrutiny. Although officials maintain that the machines destroyed in the fire had already served their purpose in the completed election process, their loss from a government storage facility has raised concerns about the handling and preservation of sensitive electoral equipment.
For now, investigators face the challenging task of separating fact from speculation.
As forensic teams sift through the charred remains of the Alipore building, the answers they uncover will determine whether Kolkata witnessed a tragic accident, an institutional failure or something far more troubling.
