According to a report by AFP Mumbai on January 21, a fire broke out on January 21 in the world’s largest vaccine production center in India, killing five people, but the vaccine company said that its coronavirus vaccine production would not be affected.
According to the report, the fire occurred in a building under construction at the Indian Serum Institute in the western Indian city of Pune.
According to media sources, after the fire was controlled, rescuers found five bodies in the building, which was confirmed by local officials.
Local TV news footage shows thick black smoke rising at the scene of the incident.
The Indian Serum Institute is responsible for producing millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Oxford University.
The report said that many other countries also rely on the company’s vaccine supply.
However, the report quoted a source of the company as saying: “This [fire] will not affect the production of a coronavirus vaccine.”
“We are deeply saddened and express our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased,” Adar Punawara, CEO of Serum Institute India, tweeted.
Indian Prime Minister Modi said he was “sorrowed by the lost life”.
According to Reuters, citing the government of Maharashtra, the fire may be caused by circuit failures in construction work.
