Major fire at Serum Institute, Pune; five feared dead. Owner Adar Poonawalla assures no loss of Covishield vaccine production

The fire has been reported from an under-construction building of the Serum Institute with five casualties. Fire-fighting is in progress. Meanwhile, tomorrow is the second phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

A major fire has broken out today, on January 21, at a plant of the Serum Institute of India in Manjari area of Pune in Maharashtra. As per the initial news reports, the fire has been reported from an under-construction building of the institute. Five people have reportedly been charred to death. Fire tenders and a team of National Disaster Response Force have reached the site and fire-fighting is in progress. More details are awaited.

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

Serum Institute has been supplying the COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, which is part of the Indian government’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive. The second phase of this vaccination drive is scheduled for tomorrow, January 22. Serum Institute is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.

Taking to Twitter, Adar Poonawalla, CEO and owner of Serum Institute, said: “I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia.

I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia. Thank you very much @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021

He also said that “no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire, despite a few floors being destroyed”.

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

The state chief minister, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, has directed the state machinery to coordinate and ensure that the situation is under control.

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

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers of the states in the country are likely to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the second round of the inoculation drive tomorrow, January 22. Modi is also going to interact with Varanasi’s COVID-19 vaccinators, beneficiaries tomorrow.

Updating….