At least five people were killed after a fire broke out in India's Covid-19 vaccine producer Serum Institute of India in Pune on Jan 21.
The deaths were confirmed by state officials three hours after the fire engulfed the vaccine production unit.
"Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans," Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol told newsmen.
The mayor added that the five people who died, were perhaps the workers at the under-construction building.
"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," ANI news agency quoted Mohol as saying.
According to media reports, the fire was caused by welding sparks at the construction site at the SII.
As the smoke filled the building, authorities rushed and evacuated nine people trapped inside in the Serum Institute of India's Manjari premises.
Serum Institute of India is the world's largest maker of vaccines and has been contracted to manufacture a billion doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine.
