Following cases in West Bengal about a fortnight ago, the government had asked the officials concerned to take steps to prevent a possible outbreak of avian flu in the state.

The Solan district administration, besides imposing a ban on the import of slaughtered poultry birds, has ordered that import of live poultry birds would be allowed in the district only from 6 am to 8 pm.

Almost all traders were importing poultry birds to various towns of Shimla, Sirmour, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti through the Kalka-Shimla National Highway.

Issuing the orders, District Magistrate Amandeep Garg has also asked the Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department to deploy a team of experts at all the exit points, including Parwanoo, Baddi, Barotiwala and Dheronwal, to ensure a round-the-clock check of all vehicles and persons importing live poultry birds, including chicken, broilers and others from neighbouring states. He also ordered that the Superintendent of Police would provide needed police assistance to the team of experts at exit points.