Kolkata, 11 June (H.S.) : The fire that broke out at the South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad office in Alipore has taken a new turn, with the district administration filing a formal complaint at Alipore Police Station amid growing questions over the cause of the incident.

The complaint was lodged by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of South 24 Parganas. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to determine whether the blaze was the result of a technical fault or involved any deliberate act.

More than 24 hours after the fire broke out, officials have not yet declared the situation completely under control. Although no visible flames remain, firefighters have not ruled out the possibility of hidden pockets of fire within the damaged structure. Several fire tenders remained stationed at the site on Thursday morning, and personnel continued inspections of the building.

Forensic experts are expected to visit the scene as part of the investigation. Their examination, including the collection of samples and technical analysis, is considered crucial in identifying the exact cause of the fire. While the possibility of a short circuit or electrical malfunction is being examined, investigators have so far been unable to pinpoint a definitive cause. As a result, all possible angles are being explored.

West Bengal Minister of State for Fire and Emergency Services Kaushik Chowdhury visited the site on Thursday morning and expressed concern over the manner in which the fire spread through the building.

“It's surprising how the fire moved from the fourth floor to the upper floors. How did it reach the ninth and tenth floors? The entire matter is under investigation. The upper floors, where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were stored, have been completely damaged. It does not appear to be a normal fire. We are examining whether there was any sabotage. It is still unclear how the fire spread to the ninth and tenth floors,” the minister said.

The incident has raised serious concerns due to the reported destruction of materials stored on the upper floors, including EVM-related equipment. Authorities are awaiting the findings of forensic experts and the ongoing police investigation before drawing conclusions regarding the cause of the blaze.

Officials said a comprehensive inquiry is underway, and further action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh