Five dead in fire at Serum Institute facility in Pune — LIVE Updates

Fire breaks out at Serum Institute: Five people have lost their lives in fire that broke out at a facility of Serum Institute in Pune. A total of 15 fire tenders were rushed to the site to douse the fire. The site where the fire broke out, is an under-construction building at Serum Institute of India.

Five dead in fire at Serum Institute

Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans, says Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol

No casualties reported so far: Maharashtra CM 

Speaking on the incident, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said: “As per the information we have received, the fire is under control. There have been no casualties so far. The fire had not broken out at the COVID vaccine unit. Six people have been rescued. Prima facie it seems that the fire was caused by an electric fault. The COVID vaccine is safe. I have not spoken to Adar Poonawalla till now.”

Fire under control: Chief fire officer, PMC

Pune Municipal Corporation chief fire officer Prashant Ranpise says fire is under control, cooling process is underway. No casualty reported, cause of the fire is still unknown

Financial Express Online learns that while the fire was in the plant it is not in the location where the Covishield vaccine is being stored. It was an area under development and therefore none of the vaccine supplies will be impacted by this. There are also no reports as yet of any harm to people and all are apparently safe. However, the cause of the fire is still not clear.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta says that the fire broke out at Manjri plant where production wasn’t happening there but preparation was on to begin it at a later stage. “Fire will be doused in an hour. No problem at vaccine plant/storage,” he adds.

Speaking to India Today TV, chief fire officer Prashant Ranpise said that the fire department received the first call at 2.45. He said currently 15 fire tenders were at the spot to douse the fire. He said fire was at three floors, 4, 5 and 6th. The officer said that so far four people have been rescued but he can not confirm if anyone else is trapped inside the building. The cause of the fire is yet to be investigated.

Maharashtra: Fire fighting operation underway at the under-construction building at Serum Institute of India in Pune, where a fire broke out this afternoon. At least 10 fire tenders present at the spot.

Vaccines and the vaccine manufacturing plant are safe. pic.twitter.com/8CJKcGoWCc

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla said that  he was focused to rescue one or two people who might still be stuck in the building. “I don’t care about anything else at the moment. So I wouldn’t want to comment on anything else. We are looking at trying to get these people out first. Then will assess the damage.”

Thank you everyone for your concern and prayers. So far the most important thing is that there have been no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire, despite a few floors being destroyed.

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021

Efforts are being made to douse the fire and rescue the other person trapped inside the building but thick layer of black smoke is making it difficult for firefighters to complete the rescue operation. The incident of fire at the Serum Institute took place at Manjri Plant. It will not affect the production of vaccine, ANI reported citing sources.

Maharashtra CMO says that chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is in touch with Pune Municipal Commissioner and is taking complete on-ground updates. He has directed state machinery to coordinate and ensure that situation is under control. One team of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) has been moved for Serum Institute of India.

Serum Institute is one of the largest vaccine manufacturers in the world. Serum is the manufacturer of Covishield vaccine, approved by the Centre for Covid-19.