A massive fire broke out in a government building in Kolkata's Alipore on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, destroying approximately 4,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) stored on the ninth floor. The building also houses the South 24 Parganas Zila Parishad office and other government departments. Minister of State for Fire and Emergency Services, Koushik Chowdhury, expressed suspicion of foul play, noting the fire's unusual progression through floors and the late arrival of fire services. The EVMs, used in multiple constituencies across Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas during the recent state assembly elections, were completely gutted. Police have formed a four-member special investigating team, including forensic experts, to determine the cause of the fire, while the Trinamool Congress has criticized the Election Commission of India, questioning the incident's timing and suggesting a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.