India, Oct. 23 -- On Thursday, a fire triggered by a suspected short circuit in Bhuleshwar once again swung the spotlight on the ageing underground power cable network of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST). A substantial 300 km of the network is in need of replacement, and the process for this has begun.

According to BEST officials, several sections of the underground network are 70 to 80 years old, with some cables even dating back to pre-independence. "Following power outages, temporary connections are often provided, increasing the load on existing lines," said a senior official from BEST. "This can cause old cables to overheat and catch fire. This could also have been a factor in the Bhuleshwar blaze."

The offi...