At least two fires broke out within separate compartments of the same building on the Serum Institute premises. Firefighters extinguished the first fire before “new blazes” started in the same area hours later, WION reported.
“Five bodies were found [after the first fire],” Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol told Asian News International (ANI). The five victims were later identified as workers at the plant.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but it is being speculated that welding, that was going on at the building, caused the fire,” Mohol said.
The fire was “caused by welding sparks at the construction site at the SII,” Maharashtra state Health Minister M. Rajesh Tope told ANI, adding that “the inflammable material at the site aggravated the fire.”
From a fire at SII's under-construction facility in Pune, PM Modi and chief ministers announcing their decision to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj's disclosure that he went straight to his father's grave upon landing in India, here are the top news trends in India.
Argentine president receives Russian-made Covid-19 vaccine
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez received an injection of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, a day after the country s health regulator approved the Russian-made vaccine for use among those aged 60 and older.
23:35 (IST) Jan 21
Northern Ireland extends Covid-19 lockdown to March 5, reports Reuters
The British region of Northern Ireland on Thursday extended its Covid-19 lockdown for an additional four weeks to March 5 and its deputy first minister said the measures might have to be extended again. Northern Ireland introduced a six-week lockdown on Dec. 26, closing schools, non-essential shops, bars and restaurants.
23:06 (IST) Jan 21
Pune: 5 dead in fire at Serum Institute of India; CEO Adar Poonawala offers condolences freepressjournal.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freepressjournal.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.