Wheat crop on around 12 acres near Tofanpur village caught fire at 4 pm today leaving a number of farmers affected and distressed over the damage to their crops. According to sources, the crop caught fire due to some short circuit in electricity wires. In no time, the fire spread across the adjoining fields of about 12 acres. Over 10 farmers of the nearby villages have been affected whose crop has been damaged in the fire. Farmers of Gholumajra, Bijanpur, Bhagwasi, Mianpur and Tofanpur villages gathered immediately and filled water bodies to avoid spreading of fire. After receiving a call from the affected farmers, a fire tender from Dera Bassi was also rushed to the spot. Though the fire tender helped in dousing the flames, the crop was completely destroyed before it could reach the spot. Jagir Singh, a farmer of Mianpur village, died due to heart attack after knowing about the incident of fire in his fields, the farmers alleged. The Lalru police and the patwari concerned also reached the spot and took stock of the loss to the crop, the sources said. The SDO of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd, Lalru, Karam Chand, denied the allegations of farmers and said as per the report of the junior engineer, the power line was shut at the time of the incident due to some repair work. However, an inquiry was ordered by PSPCL officials, the sources said. Source - tribuneindia.com