A fire broke out at a local market in Dhupguri town of Jalpaiguri on Saturday around 1pm and gutted around 12 shops.

Firemen could douse the flames in three hours. They suspect an electrical short circuit behind the fire.

Around 1pm, while the market at Station Road of the town was busy with shoppers ahead of Lakshmi Puja, a trader suddenly spotted smoke billowing out of a closed shop.

He raised an alert. Many people assembled and tried to control the fire. However, in the congested area, the fire spread rapidly from one shop after another. Soon, two engines from Dhupguri fire station reached the spot. The firemen could control the blaze by 4pm.

“At least 12 shops selling garments, footwear, stationery and grocery items were gutted in the blaze. We suspect an electrical short circuit,” said Debasish Dutta, the secretary of Dhupgui Byabsayee Samiti.

Rajesh Singh, the vice-chairman of the local civic body, who reached the spot said that Dhupguri had seen similar incidents of market fires earlier.

“We, in association with Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad, will take an initiative to improve the infrastructure of shops. Authorities of WBSEDCL would be asked to check the power connection, power cables, electric meters and similar items to avert such incidents in the future,” said Singh.

A medicine shop was gutted in a fire at Khalpara in ward 8 of Siliguri early on Saturday.