India, April 2 -- The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday launched a citywide crackdown on illegal overhead cables, warning of fines and sterner action in the coming days. A joint team comprising officials from the civic electrical department, anti-encroachment wing and fire brigade on Wednesday carried out the action near Adinath society, Satara road, among others.

The drive, initiated by standing committee chairman Shreenath Bhimale, follows a recent PMC survey which found nearly 3,600 km of overhead cables laid across the city without permission. Bhimale said that these cables pose a serious safety risk. "Many of these cables are strung using ropes and substandard material, which is life-threatening. There have been recent a...