A fire broke out at one of the pillars of the footbridge which connects platforms I and II at Jalpaiguri Road station on Tuesday afternoon.

Sources said around 3pm, a blaze was noticed at the concrete pillar on platform I. Soon, a fire engine reached the spot and doused the flames.

Also, engineers from the electrical wing of the railways and WBSEDCL visited the spot after the fire.

The state fire services department suspect that an electrical short circuit had caused the fire.

In another incident, wheat ready for harvest in around six bighas of land was gutted in South Dinajpur on Tuesday.

The farmers managed to douse the fire before a fire engine reached the spot at Baddipur-Bora area under Patiram police station of the district.

Wheat cultivated in around six bighas of land was completely burnt in the blaze, the farmers said.

Sources said after harvesting wheat, a section of farmers set fire to their field to burn the straw. As there was a steady wind in the area today, the fire spread in some adjoining fields where the crop was not harvested.

The fire service department has initiated a probe.

Officials of the state agriculture department said they were looking into the issue.

“We regularly conduct awareness programmes so that farmers do not burn the straw. But a section of them are still continuing with the practice which has led to the damage,” said an official.