SII Fire Pune: 5 killed in fire at Serum Institute's under-construction facility
Pune/IBNS: At least five people have been killed in the fire which broke out at an under-construction facility of India's biotechnology and pharmaceuticals company Serum Institute of India (SII) here on Thursday.
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted, "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
Over nine fire tenders are trying to douse the fire which broke out at SII's Manjari complex, said sources.
In one good news, the fire is not expected to hit the production of India's first vaccine against Covid-19, Covishield, which the SII produced in the country in a partnership with Oxford University and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.
The Manjari complex is just a few minutes away from the site where Covishield is produced.
Chief fire officer, PMC, Prashant Ranpise, said as per sources, "The fire has so far spread to three floors including 3rd, 4th and 5th. We have sent 10 vehicles so far.”
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