Ritik Gupta
Pune/ Delhi: A fire broke out today at the Serum Institute of India in Pune at a building under construction. It is uncertain about affecting the production of Covishield, the coronavirus vaccine formulated by the SII in partnership with the Oxford University and British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca.
The Serum Institute of India, which is proud of itself as “the world’s largest vaccine maker”, is spread over 100 acres in Pune.
Manjari, the complex where the fire broke out, is a few minutes ride from the building where the Covid vaccines are generated, sources said. It is reckoned to be a fraction of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
About eight-nine buildings are being built at the Manjari complex to bargain with the future pandemics to strengthen the SII’s manufacturing potential.
Visuals exhibit enormous emblems of smoke billowing out of the buildings.
“There were four people inside the building. We have rescued three so far although large smoke is hampering the work of bringing the fire in control,” a fire office said, giving details.
CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray is in touch with the Pune Municipal Commissioner and is taking complete on-ground updates. He has directed the state machinery to coordinate and ensure that the situation is under control. https://t.co/NlcVtf33TG
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 21, 2021
It is not yet apparent how the fire broke out. It may, nevertheless, be related to the vast building taking place at the site.
Maharashtra Chief Minister’s office tweeted he is “in touch with the Pune Municipal Commissioner and is taking complete on-ground updates”.
CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray is in touch with the Pune Municipal Commissioner and is taking complete on-ground updates. He has directed the state machinery to coordinate and ensure that the situation is under control. https://t.co/NlcVtf33TG
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 21, 2021
“He has directed the state machinery to coordinate and ensure that the situation is under control,” the statement read.
India inaugurated the world’s biggest coronavirus vaccine rollout last week after two vaccines – Covishield and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin – were vindicated by the drug controller DCGI. Three crore healthcare and frontline workers are anticipated to be vaccinated in the first phase.
