Pune: The production unit COVISHIELD vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India after the fire incident at the centre is completely safe, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Uddhav Thackeray on Friday visited the Serum Institute of Pune to review the situation after the fire broke out here on Thursday which killed five people. He said, "The production unit of COVID vaccine is completely safe. The investigation of the incident has started and once the final report is made, the actual reason of the incident will be known."
"The fire broke out at the third and fourth floor of the building where new unit was about to set up. However, the unit of COVISHIELD vaccine is far from here. Thus, the vaccine production unit is safe. Serum has already announced the compensation to the family members of deceassed. State government will surely provide further assistance," he added.
A huge fire left five people dead at Pune's Serum Institute of India on Thursday.
Senior officials from wings of three Maharashtra government agencies on Friday initiated an investigation to find the real reason of the fire.
Heads of fire departments of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) are part of the investigational team.
Five contractual labourers lost their lives in the fire. The compensation of worth Rs 25 lakh was announced by the Serum Institute to the family members of the deceased. The facility centre where the fire broke out is located in Manjari area which is not far away from the unit where COVID vaccines are produced. However, the company has clearly stated that the COVISHIELD vaccines are safe.
Deputy Chief Minister of the state Ajit Pawar also visited the site to review the situation on Thursday. Talking to media persons he said, "An audit will be conducted of the building where the fire had broken out to know the real reason behind the incident."
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Serum Institute is one of the world's biggest pharma company which makes vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis B and other diseases, which are exported to over 150 nations.
