The Assam government started culling operations on Saturday in two districts bordering bird flu affected West Bengal, in compliance with a directive from the central government.

The Centre, fearing the spread of bird flu to Assam via the border districts, had instructed the state government to carry out culling operations within five kilometers of the border in the districts of Dhubi and Kokrajhar.

Rapid Response Teams from the Assam Veterinary Department have started culling operations in the two districts today, even though no cases of bird flu have been reported from any part of the state.
 
Approximately one lakh poultry birds will be culled in the two districts as a precautionary measure and it will take at least seven days to complete the operation, with the help of 20 RRTs.
 
Earlier, the state government had banned the import of poultry products from West Bengal and prohibited sale of chicken in Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Goalpara districts.
 
The Centre had also issued instructions for the culling of birds in the southern districts of  Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, bordering the bid flu hit Bangladesh, sources said..
 
However, the State Veterinary Department is yet to receive a copy of the Centre's directive for culling operations in these three districts. The state and the Centre will share the compensation to be paid to poultry farmers.