Bird flu: Culling of poultry begins in Odisha’s Rourkela despite resistance

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Rourkela, Jan 8:

Culling of poultry began at Kacharu village Kuanrmunda block on the outskirts of Rourkela city in Odisha’s Sundargarh district this morning after blood samples tested positive for H5N1 virus.

The district administration officials began the culling drive this morning as scheduled. However, they had to face opposition from local people from Chatakatola slum.

The protesting villagers demanded culling to begin from poultry farms.

According to reports, nearly 11, 000 fowls would be culled by the district administration within one kilometer radius from the affected village to cease the spread of avian influenza. For this, five teams have been formed.

Notably, some birds were found drop dead in Indira Gandhi (IG) Park of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) and carcasses of several crows were found around CISF campus near Bisra Square in December last creating panic among locals.

While Park was closed for visitors, an alert was sounded around one km from the two areas.

Worth mentioning that earlier in December last year, the avian influenza was detected in Keranga village in Khurda district following which culling of poultry and eggs was undertaken.