Rourkela: After blood sample of birds tested positive for bird flu (H5N1) virus in in Rourkela, culling began at Kacharu and Rampur villages on Sunday.
According to sources, five teams have been formed for the culling which will cull around 1,100 chickens within one kilometer radius from Kacharu village. The team will cull around 2,000 chickens today.
However, locals of Chatakatola opposed culling of fowls demanding to start culling at chicken firms.
Four days ago, blood samples were collected from the chickens in the area and sent to Bhopal for test. The blood samples were tested positive for H5N1 virus.
As a precautionary measure, the administration has also shut down Indira Gandhi park, a major tourist destination in the city, for seven days after some pelicans tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.