Delhi

Serum Institute of India (SII) has clarified that the production and supply of the Covishield vaccine for COVID-19 will not be effected because of a massive fire at the institute’s premises.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO, SII, "We were lucky that the incident happened in a different building. The extent of the financial damage is more than Rs 1,000 crores. The fire has no impact on the production of the Covishield vaccine and no damage has occurred to the existing stock either."

The authorities have launched an investigation to find the cause and other details of the fire at SII facility at Pune on Thursday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday,

"An inquiry is currently being conducted. Until the investigation report comes in, we cannot come to any conclusions," he told the media persons.

He also saidwhile SII had taken the responsibility for the victims' families, the government would provide other help, if needed.

Poonawalla expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister on Twitter for visiting SII plant and extending help during the 'terrible crisis'.

Last week, a fire had broken out at SII's Manjari plant, claiming the lives of five people. Six people were rescued from an under-construction building. Hours later, another fire broke out again in one of the compartments of the building at SII.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had said the initial fire was caused by ongoing welding work at the site.
The SII had announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to the families of the people who died in the fire incident at the company's facility at Manjari.