Panic in Patiala as over 600 birds found dead on roadside

PATIALA: Panic gripped Patiala after over 600 chickens were found dead at Rakhra village in Patiala-nabha road on Wednesday.

The dead birds were dumped near the roadside reportedly by unidentified truck driver.

The department of animal husbandry immediately swung into action and started process of disposing of dead birds.

The department of animal husbandry has also collected samples for testing of avian influenza, which has already spread among birds in neighbouring Haryana.

Deputy director of the department Dr Rajinder Kumar Goyal said the samples have been sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory ( RDDL), Jalandhar, to ascertain exact cause of death.

“From the preliminary investigation, it is found that the chickens died to acute suffocation,” he said.

105 more migratory birds found dead in Himachal’s Pong dam

DHARAMSHALA: A total of 105 more migratory birds were found dead in Pong Lake area here on Wednesday.

Since the outbreak of H5N1 virus in December end, 4,742 migratory birds have been found dead in the wetland so far.

Besides, many have also died.

Four samples collected from different locations were tested by the Jal Shakti department, but no virus strain was found in the lake water.

However, the ban on sale and export of poultry and fish in the four sub- divisions of Kangra districts will continue till further orders. Apart from this, the state government has also banned import of poultry products from other states for a week.

The state government has directed the district authorities to maintain proper surveillance alongside the reservoirs and to ensure proper disposal of the dead birds. local birds