Despite CM’s appeal, culling operations remain incomplete

Meanwhile, a report of the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory’s said two new blocks in South 24 Parganas, including Canning, tested positive for avian flu with a mortality of 251 till yesterday.

Culling operations are scheduled to continue in several districts, including Birbhum, Murshidabad, Hooghly, Cooch Behar, Howrah, South and North 24 Parganas, among others.

State Animal Resource Development Minister Anisur Rehman said: “The culling operations are almost complete. There are some live birds in certain pockets and we are evaluating the situation. Culling will continue in some parts of the state tomorrow and the day after. At places where it is over, mopping operations are being undertaken. We have asked the district magistrate to conduct a door-to-door search in areas where they suspect live birds still remain. Till yesterday, we have culled 29,42,520 birds in the state.”

In Birbhum, one of the worst-hit districts, the administration claimed that 10.5 lakh birds have been killed so far in eight of the 13 affected blocks. At Rampurhat I, Siuri I and II, and Nalhati I blocks culling operations are still on.

“According to our calculations, about 30,000 to 40,000 birds remain in some blocks which will be destroyed soon. Following this, mopping operations will begin. We are trying our best to finish the culling operations, but one must keep in mind the ground realities,” said Birbhum District Magistrate T K Some. “So far, there is no report of human infection in the state. Blood samples of a fever case in Tamluk hospital have tested negative,” said Sanchita Bakshi, state Director of Health Services. She was referring to ARD official Subhas Barui, who was admitted in Tamluk State General Hospital with fever after he took part in culling operations. In North 24 Parganas, culling operations are yet to be completed. According to official estimates, 1.5 lakh birds have been killed in Swarupnagar, Baduria and Habra I blocks since Wednesday.

In Cooch Behar, mopping operations will be undertaken at Dinhata where culling operations ended on January 30. However, there are reports of locals hiding chicks and smuggling birds in from outside, sources said. In Mathabhanga, a block in the district, culling was expected to be over today, sources said, adding that 24,930 chicks have been culled already and Rs 8,37,540 handed over as compensation.