Serum Institute fire: 5 killed, 6 rescued; PM Modi expresses anguish

Cyrus S Poonawalla, chairman and MD of Serum Institute of India, on Thursday said the vaccine major will offer compensation of Rs 25 lakh in addition to the mandated amount to families of persons who died in a fire at the company's premises in Pune.

Five men died after a fire broke out in a five-storeyed under-construction building at the firm's Manjari premises in Pune on Thursday.

All were construction workers whose bodies were recovered by fire brigade personnel from the fifth floor, police said, adding nine others were evacuated from the spot.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of five people who lost their lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute of India (SII), in Pune.

"The loss of lives in a fire accident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune is distressing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.

I wish speedy recovery of the injured," President Kovind tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the deaths caused by the fire incident.

"Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at Serum Institute of India.

In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives.

I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," PM Modi tweeted.

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