LAHORE: A fire erupted on Monday in the basement of the Central Model School on Rattigan Road and burnt the election material of the May 2013 general election.

The basement was being used by the Election Commission of Punjab to keep election record.

ECP Deputy Director Abdul Majeed said the election record remained safe. He told reporters at the fire scene a small quantity of the election material, including stationery, bags and forms, was damaged. He said fresh ballot papers were stored in the godowns for upcoming by-polls and local government election in Punjab.

He said the fire and estimates were being probed into.

Rescue 1122 Emergency Officer Dr Ahmad said 20 bags containing ballot papers were reduced to ashes.

The officer told Dawn a short circuit was out of question as the possible reason for the fire because the firefighters did not find any electricity wiring in the basement. He suspected the fire as an intentional act by someone.

Firefighters controlled the blaze in a half hour while rescuers and teachers evacuated the students from the school.

Executive District Officer Pervez Akhtar said the security of the basement was the responsibility of the ECP.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2014