The culling operations following the recent re-emergence of the virus have failed to contain the disease.

“Shortage of manpower due to the panchayat elections and unwillingness of villagers to cooperate with the administration have made the situation difficult. Things may improve after the elections,” said Animal Resources Minister Anisur Rehman, who is busy overseeing the elections in Murshidabad, which went to the polls on Sunday.

“We are doing our best. The panchayat elections are vital for the state,” said Rehman.

On May 9, Darjeeling district officials confirmed the outbreak of avian flu in Siliguri almost two months after the H5N1 virus was detected in the neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.

The administration identified three panchayat areas in Siliguri sub-division and one in Kurseong where operations began with a target of culling over 20,000 chickens. However, not all the birds were culled. Despite an overall ban on the poultry trade, people have been flouting it in the open. On May 15, the virus was detected once again in Palbazar and Bijanbari by the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal.

The administration again initiated culling operations in four gram panchayats of Nore, Chung Thung, Rishihaat and Shittong which falls in the 5-km radius of

Palbazar.