Four people were killed in a dynamite explosion at a stone quarry in Karnataka's Shivamogga. The area has been sealed and the police are waiting for bomb disposal squads to come from Bengaluru and Mangaluru; Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will visit the Serum Institute of India campus today, a day after five people died in a fire at a building under construction at the vaccine maker's facility. The 11th round of talks between farmer leaders and Union minsters will be held today. The farmers have rejected the offer to pause the farm laws for one-and-a-half years. So far 10 lakh people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 since the start of inoculation in India last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today interact with vaccinators and those who will receive shots in Varanasi. Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala has tested positive for coronavirus; she has been admitted to a COVID-19 intensive care unit. Barring another wave of COVID-19 infections, the worst is over for India's economy, the Reserve Bank of India said. A massive blaze left five people dead on Thursday at vaccine-maker Serum Institute's Pune facility, at a building that is under construction. A second fire broke out hours later and was brought under control.
