The dreaded avian influenza took another step towards Kolkata, even as the government tried to block all gateways to the city, with confirmation of the outbreak at Hatpur village under Chanditala police station, some 20 km from the metropolis.

Hooghly District Magistrate Vinod Kumar said that several birds had died of unnatural causes in the area. Their blood samples were sent for tests and the authorities confirmed that the dreaded disease had taken another village in its grip, thus inching closer towards the West Bengal capital.

The district administration was scheduled to hold a meeting today with officials from the  Animal Resource and Health departments, to decide on the action plan to tackle the crisis, Kumar said, adding that culling would begin in the village on Friday.

Meanwhile, the culling process at the Bansberia municipal area in the district, where bird flu had been confirmed on Wednesday, would begin today, Kumar said.

Approximately 15 veterinary teams will execute the culling operations and a target of 10,000 chicken has been set for the day. Over 30,000 birds have been culled so far in the district, the DM added.