Rs1,000 cr loss; non-Covid supply lines will be hit
A day after a fire broke out in an under-construction building at the Serum India Institute (SII), killing five people, CEO Adar Poonawalla has estimated the resultant financial loss to be Rs 1,000 crore but has clarified that there was no impact on the supply of the anti-coronavirus vaccine, Covishield, and its production would not be affected. However, other facilities involved in the production of rotavirus and BCG vaccines were damaged.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who visited the SII facility on Friday and also met company Chairman Cyrus Poonawalla and his son Adar, said investigation would reveal whether it was an accident or sabotage.
''It is not correct to say anything now, as investigation is underway. Only when the probe is complete, will we know whether it was an accident or sabotage," he noted. The fire damaged the top two floors of the building located in the 'SEZ 3' area of the premises of the institute.
Thackeray, who was accompanied by Labour Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray and the deputy chairman of the legislative council, Neelam Gorhe, said the SII had already taken responsibility for the five construction workers who perished in the fire
but assured the government would chip in, if any help were needed. "The SII has already taken responsibility for the five labourers, including three migrants who were killed in the blaze, by giving Rs 25 lakh, plus other benefits as per norms, to each of their kin.
Thackeray further stated that the SII chairman and CEO have repeatedly said that there would be no impact on the Covishield vaccine production and its rollout would continue unhindered.
Already the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) have launched a probe, after it was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday evening.