Fresh poultry deaths reported

Agartala, Apr 10: Tripura Animal Resource Development (ARD) officials have sent more bird samples to Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL), Bhopal following unnatural death of more than a thousand of poultry birds in Bangladesh bordering Sonamura and Sadar North of West Tripura and Belonia in South Tripura yesterday.

ARD officials suspected that the bird flu virus might spread in these areas from Bangladesh. The state government had issued a ban on consumption of poultry products.

The officials said over 21,000 birds had been eliminated in different parts of the Kamalpur Subdivision in Dhalai district since culling operation began on April 8 last. Till yesterday 12,000 birds were culled.

''Besides, killing of birds we have also destroyed nearly 4500 eggs and 70kg feed,'' said Commissioner of Animal Resource Development Mr U Venkateswarulu and added that the administration provided a compensation of total Rs 9.14 lakh so far over the past two days to the victim families.

He, however, reiterated that administration would cull all the birds within the 5 km radius of the affected areas and entire operation is likely to be completed by tomorrow. At least 8000 families would be affected in the operation that would also entail a financial loss of roughly Rs 20 lakh.

Mr Venkateswarulu underlined that the administration had been keeping a strict vigil so that people cannot mobilize their stocks outside the affected zone and three drop-gates were set up in Kamalpur.

Health units were also on the run keeping a close tab on the developments.

UNI