Serum Institute fire
Fire breaks out again at Serum Institute's under-construction building hours after 5 die
Pune/IBNS: A second fire broke out at the Serum Institute of India (SII)'s under-construction building after the massive blaze that claimed five lives at the vaccine developer's Pune facility on Thursday.
At least five people were killed in the massive fire which broke out at an under-construction facility of the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals company.
Giving some relief, the incident is unlikely to hit the production of Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the SII in partnership with the Oxford University and British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca.
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
It took around three hours for firemen to bring the blaze under control.
The fire is believed to have started because of an electrical fault.
The pharmaceuticals company announced a compensation of Rs. 25 lakh each to the families of the five deceased contractual labourers.
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at the @SerumInstIndia . In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest."
Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at the @SerumInstIndia. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021
The Manjari complex, where the fire broke out, is just a few minutes away from the site where Covishield is produced.
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