5 killed in fire at SII, Vaccine unit safe: CEO

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Pune-based Serum Institute of India engaged in making COVISHIELD, says ‘’We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed in the fire engulfing a portion of the building. However, there would be no loss of Covishield production due to the fire’’. The major fire that broke out at the Serum Institute of India’s building Thursday afternoon led to the death of five people while the rescue team evacuated four, Pune Mayor said. “Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans,” said Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but it is being speculated that welding, that was going on at the building, caused the fire, Mohol added Adar Poonawalla has expressed condolences for the loss of lives. “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,” tweeted Poonawalla. There was no impact on the Covishield vaccine making process as the fire was in a facility away from the place where the anti-coronavirus vaccines are made. Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI the fire broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floor of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises.