A devastating fire ravaged numerous shanties near Eco Park on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata on Wednesday evening, destroying homes in a rapidly spreading inferno that began around 7:30 pm. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, though thick plumes of smoke created widespread panic among residents in the affected area.

The blaze originated in one shanty and quickly engulfed adjacent structures, constructed primarily from highly flammable materials. Firefighting efforts involved deploying at least 20 tenders, with officials stating that while the flames were brought under control, complete extinguishment proved challenging due to the combustible nature of the dwellings. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.

Authorities partially restricted access to the vicinity, regulating traffic to support emergency operations. Local residents actively participated in assisting firefighters and ensuring the safe evacuation of inhabitants, demonstrating community resilience amid the crisis.

Also Read: Electrical Short Circuit Triggers Fire at Mumbai Coastal Road Construction Site

The incident has ignited intense political controversy, with senior BJP leader Amit Malviya accusing authorities of involvement in a broader scheme. In a statement on social media platform X, Malviya linked the fire to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process for voter rolls in West Bengal, noting similar incidents of abandoned huts in suburban areas including Ghuni.

Malviya alleged that the destruction was deliberately orchestrated to enable affected individuals to claim loss of critical documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and voter IDs, potentially facilitating their re-inclusion in electoral lists after thousands of names were recently removed in the draft rolls. He described the situation as deliberate electoral manipulation and criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what he termed as dangerously irresponsible governance.

Also Read: Death Toll Increases to 13 in Yamuna Expressway Multi-Vehicle Fire Accident