“One must understand that it is not easy to work at the grassroot level. We need some time for planning. However, I have already asked the officials to complete culling as soon as possible,” said state Animal Resource Development Minister Anisur Rehman. The minister had reportedly pulled up district officials over the delay in culling, sources said.

On Saturday, the teams set out for the blocks to conduct a door-to-door survey to look for any backyard poultry farm. A three-member team is arriving from New Delhi to supervise the operation, said District Magistrate Ramchandra Ranjit.

Culling was delayed, as the teams were busy chalking out their plan of action at the office of the deputy director of animal resources department, sources said. The teams reached the affected area of Mondolghat only at 6 pm on Friday. The district administration has set a target of culling 46,000 chickens in Jalpaiguri Sadar and Moynaguri blocks by Sunday.

Reportedly, the 200 personnel who had carried out culling in Malda were quarantined at the district sports authority hostel as a precautionary measure. “Three workers who had developed flu-like symptoms have recovered,” said Chief Medical Officer (health) R R Banik.