Fire in Serum Institute of India’s Pune plant, five people died
Five people have died due to fire at Terminal 1 Gate of the Pune plant of Serum Institute of India.
Pune Mayor Muralidhar Mohol has confirmed the death of five people.
He said, five people trapped on the last floor of a building of the Serum Institute have died. Construction was being done on this floor. We are trying to find out how the fire started. The last floor is completely burnt down. After overcoming the fire, the bodies of five people were found while inspecting the building. Those who die can be laborers. Everyone else has been safely evacuated.
Earlier, concerned officials told BBC Marathi that the fourth and fifth floors of the institute building have been set on fire and 10 fire engines had gone there to control the fire.
Serum Institute of India is developing Corona Vaccine Covishield of Oxford-AstraZeneca and is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.
Not only India, many other countries also depend on this company for vaccine.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said, “Six people have been rescued. At first glance, the fire seems to be caused by an electrical disturbance. Kovid’s vaccine is safe. I have not spoken to Adar Poonawala yet.”
Adar Poonawala, CEO of Serum Institute of India, has tweeted, “We have just received some heartbreaking news. We have come to know that some people have died in this accident. We are deeply saddened and the people killed. We have deepest condolences to the family. “
Earlier, he tweeted, “Thank you all for worrying and blessings. The most important thing so far is that no one has been killed and no one has been seriously injured by the fire. Only a few floors of the building have been damaged. “
He further tweeted, “I want to assure all governments and people that the use of many buildings for production will not cause any harm to the production of Kovishield. I have made such an accident He is kept in reserve to deal with the incidents. Many thanks to Pune Police and Fire Department!”
Pune Mayor Muralidhar Mohol has said that a total of five people have died in this accident and possibly these people were working in the building under construction there. He said that the reason for the fire is not clear yet but it is feared that due to the welding work going on in the building, the fire has started.
The Serum Institute of India is part of the Kovacs Scheme supported by the World Health Organization. The aim is to provide vaccines to countries with middle income.
The institute is located in the Mazari area of Pune.
Pune Deputy Police Commissioner Namrata Patil M has said that “this fire has started at the terminal 1 gate of the plant”.
“They are facing obstacles in relief work due to the spread of smoke all around.
However, he has said that there are no injuries and all have been saved safely.
Fire brigade officer Prashant Ranpese had earlier said, “The entire building has been evacuated after the fire. But four people were trapped in it, out of which three have been evacuated.”
Local MLA Chetan Tupe had also reached the occasion and said that the fire is in the SEZ-3 building and the work of making the vaccine is not being done in this building.
