A massive fire has broken out at a plant of Serum Institute of India in Manjri area of Pune. As per initial information, no person is trapped inside the under-construction building.
Eight fire tenders are on the spot. The cause of fire at SII plant is not yet known.
The Serum Institute in India has manufactured the Covishield vaccine against coronavirus. Sources said the production of Covishiled was not being carried out at the SII building where a major fire broke out on Thursday.
The under-construction building is adjacent to the plant where Covishield is being produced.
Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at Terminal 1 gate of Serum Institute of India in Pune. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/RnjnNj37ta
— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021
Covishield is developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca and manufactured by the SII
According to Massive efforts are on to put out the blaze.
The Serum Institute of India, which prides 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 drive from the facility where the vaccines are produced, as per sources. It is believed to be a part of a Special Economic Zone.
About eight-nine buildings are being constructed at the Manjari complex to deal with the future pandemics, aimed to enhance the SII’s manufacturing capability.
Visuals showed huge plumes of smoke billowing out of the buildings. A fire office said, “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.”
It’s not yet clear how the fire broke out. It may, however, be linked to the massive construction taking place at the site.