Alarmed over birdflu incidence in neighbouring West Bengal, authorities in Assam's Kokrajhar district have ordered culling of 50,000 birds.
The veterinary and animal husbandry department has set the target to create a 'free poultry zone' as a precautionary measure in Kokrajhar, which is adjacent to north Bengal districts. Veterinary Officer Debojit Brahma said that about 400 birds were culled on Sunday with five rapid response teams arriving here from Guwahati for better coordination. The teams will spread out in the bordering areas of north Bengal, including in Gossaigaon sub division to asses whether there was any instance of the deadly virus. Brahma said there were non organised poultry farms in the area where villagers practiced only backyard poultry. The district administrations of Kokrajhar and Dhubri, bordering north Bengal, have banned sale and stocking of poultry and eggs as precautionary measure.
