New Delhi (NVI): At least 5 workers have died in a major fire that broke out at an under-construction building at Serum Institute of India (SII) in Manjri area of Pune this afternoon.
Reportedly, 10 fire tenders were engaged to bring the flames under control which has now been doused.
Furthermore, three of the four people stuck inside the building have been rescued and fire department personnel were in the process of rescuing the fourth person, as per the media reports.
CEO of Serum Institute, Adar Poonawalla took to twitter in this regard and wrote, “We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.”
We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021
“I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia. Thank you very much @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department,” he stated in an earlier tweet.
I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia. Thank you very much @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021
Serum Institute is manufacturing the Covishield vaccine that has been developed by the Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Covishield is one of the two Covid-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency use approval in India.
However, the production of Covishield was not being carried out at the SII building where the fire broke out today, according to media reports.
Details regarding the cause of the fire are awaited.
-CHK
