212 EVMs damaged in fire in Gangtok

Gangtok March 03: m A major fire gutted 212 electronic voting machines (EVMs) kept in a strongroom inside the Paljor Stadium in Sikkim.

A total of 212 EVMs worth Rs 24 lakh, meant for use in the April 30 Lok Sabha polls to be held simultaneously with the assembly polls, were damaged in the blaze which broke out due to a short circuit on Monday midnight, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) T T Dorjee told Media here.

The EVMs, badly damaged in the flames, would be replaced, he said. The remaining EVMs, kept in other strong rooms, have been shifted to the office premises of the District Collector (DC), East.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident to be conducted by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Yashoda Bhandari who will submit a report within seven days, the CEO said.

The power department officials, fire brigade and police authorities have also been asked to submit their report in the matter.