To curb bird flu spread, Red Fort closed for all visitors indefinitely: ASI

NEW DELHI: The Red Fort has been indefinitely closed to the public as a measure to control the potential spread of bird flu, an order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday has said. The Asi-protected monument has also been declared an “infected zone”.

“As per order received from the district magistrate (central)-cumdistrict disaster management authority, and in continuation to previous office orders of this office, it is hereby directed that the Red Fort, Delhi, shall remain closed to public and general visitors until further order as a measure to control the spread of avian influenza in the

Red Fort area which is declared as (an) infected zone,” said the order issued on Monday, a copy of which HT has seen.

At least 15 carcasses of crows were found on the Red Fort premises in early January and some of them were sent to a laboratory for tests. On January 19, one sample tested positive for the H5N1 virus, following which the ASI shut the monument till January 26, and later extended the closure till January 31, officials said.

Monday’s order essentially stretches the closure of the monument indefinitely.

The Fort witnessed violence on January 26 when hundreds of farmers, who were participating in a tractor rally stormed the Red Fort.