Birds culling to continue for next 5 days in Meghalaya

To check the spread of bird-flu in East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, culling and mopping operations will continue for the next five days.

"Until last evening, 3026 fowls were subjected to culling by the district administration, even as specialised teams of Rapid Response Teams and medical officers were activated within three kilometres from the epicentre where the bird-flu was detected," District Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said.

The teams are concentrating in areas within three kilometres of the government-run farm for the past four days and a total of 21 villages have been sanitised, he said.

According to the district magistrate, the operation will continue for the coming five days in and around Williamnagar town.

Till Sunday, the government had to pay compensation of Rs3,11,975 to affected farmers after it enhanced compensation from Rs50 (GoI rate) up to Rs250 per fowl.

The district, with a population density of 122 inhabitants per square km, has a population of 3 lakh as per 2011 census.

Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory confirmed bird-flu on January 11 after testing blood samples.