Chandigarh: Authorities in Chandigarh Thursday evening started culling of all birds in and around the city’s famous Sukhna lake after a dead goose was confirmed with the H5N1 (avian influenza or bird flu) virus.
“On communication received from the central government, culling of all birds in the vicinity of Sukhna lake — ducks and geese, live or dead — will be done and buried as per the action plan and bio-security measure set up by the WHO,” said a spokesman of the Chandigarh administration. “The operation started at 4 p.m. with the help of all the concerned departments, primarily animal husbandry, wildlife and Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, director health services and engineering department. The operation will go on till midnight and no bird will be left unburied,” the spokesman said.
The area around the lake was cordoned off by police and the forest department.
“At this stage, public is advised not to panic and cooperate with the administration. The administration has taken all possible steps to ensure the containment of virus and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
The lake and its vicinity “shall remain out of bounds for general public till further orders”, he said.
“At present, there is no assessment regarding any outbreak of bird flu in Chandigarh. The situation is, however, being very closely monitored,” he said.
Police and paramilitary personnel, with masks on their faces, were stationed at the lake complex since early Thursday to cordon off the entire area. (IANS)