A fire incident occurred at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens stadium during ongoing renovation work for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, scheduled to start on October 5. The fire broke out late on Wednesday (August 9) night, igniting concerns about potential disruptions to the World Cup preparations. Despite the incident, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) assured that the fire had minimal impact on the stadium.

CAB President Snehasish Ganguly clarified that the situation was quickly brought under control and emphasized that the incident wouldn’t impede the World Cup preparations or the established timelines.

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Snehashish Ganguly stated, “The fire broke out last night at around 11.50 pm. People working saw smoke and then the fire. Immediately two fire tenders were pressed into action and flames doused in no time. There was no damage to the dressing room as such. Only some burnt cables. The cause of the fire was from the heating of the sauna heater from which sparks ignited the stacks of towels close by.”

 

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He added that experts from CESC (Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation) assessed the situation, advised necessary cable changes, and ensured that the stadium’s operations were unaffected. Ganguly dismissed speculations of sabotage, urging that the incident shouldn’t be sensationalized.

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While the fire reportedly resulted in minimal damage to cables, earlier reports had suggested potential harm to players’ belongings. The incident has raised concerns over safety measures at the stadium, particularly since it is a designated venue for the forthcoming ICC World Cup in October-November.

The CAB had set a deadline of September 15 for completing the renovation work at Eden Gardens, and preparations are expected to continue as planned. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is also likely to conduct a safety assessment of the stadium in light of the incident.