Red Fort closed to visitors till Jan 26

The Red Fort has been shut for the public till January 26 after the carcass of a dead crow found within the premises of the historical monument tested positive for bird flu. Delhi government officials said around 15 crows were found dead in the area last week. Their samples were sent to Northern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar, Punjab, which confirmed the H5N1 virus in at least one sample. “The result of at least one of the samples is positive for avian influenza. The rest are also likely to come positive. We have directed the authorities to restrict public entry into the monument’s premises,” said a senior official of the department. “Deep sanitisation and cleaning of the area is now being carried out,” the official said. The Archaeological Survey of India later issued an order to keep Red Fort shut till January 21. Due to Republic Day, the monument was to remain shut from Jan 22 to 26.