From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: At least 5000 birds were culled and over 6000 eggs were destroyed at Gandhigram poultry farm, 13 km from here on Friday following the outbreak of bird flu in Tripura.
Following deaths of chicks at government run poultry farm, the Animal Resources Development (ARD) department had sent blood samples to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal which confirmed infection of avian influenza there on March 10, said Director of ARDD Monaranjan Sarakar.
After green signal from the Delhi, six teams of Rapid Response Squad have started culling operation at Gandhigram farm and its adjacent areas. “The culling operation will continue till Saturday and followed by moping up operation”, he said.
Unlike previous occasions, this time culled chickens will be destroyed by setting fire as per the guideline issued by the Delhi, he said adding that compensation would be paid to each affected family.
This is for the second time,the Animal Resource Development Department (ARDD) goes for culling of poultry products during the last thee and half months and the last time it was at Lumbucherra ICAR complex.