A major fire broke out at a Serum Institute of India in Pune. . The blaze was reported at a building near the Terminal 1 gate of the institute. Reports suggest that the fire was engulfed one of the production plants of the SII. The officials from the company has cleared that the unit where COVISHIELD vaccine is manufactured is completely safe.

Pune-based pharma giant has developed the Covishield vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

10 fire fighting water tanks and Branto vehicle rushed to the spot and fire personnel are trying to douse the flames. Serum Instiute is located in Manjari area.

"The fire broke out at Serum Institute of India, located in Pune's Manjari area, around 1.30 pm. Three people were rescued and the building is evacuated," the Prashant Ranpise, Chief Fire Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said.

The fire has broken out at the plant where the BCG vaccine is manufactured. The fire incident took place at the new building which is adjacent to the unit where the COVID vaccine is being manufactured. The cause of fire at the plant is not yet known.