Friday, March 31 2006 16:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Fresh culling of around 1,500 birds in four villages of Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh was carried out today even as the operations were successfully executed in 23 villages of bird flu-hit Burhanpur, official sources said.

Dhamania, Rajangaon, Belghat and Umreti villages in Barwani, fall under surveillance zone of Varad village in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, where fresh case of bird flu was detected on March 28, state Veterinary Commissioner Rajesh Rajora said.

Around 1,500 birds were culled in the villages since this morning by five rapid response teams, he added.

Meanwhile, 8,247 chickens were culled and 293 were mopped up during door-to-door operation in 23 villages falling within 10km radius of Ichhapur, after bird flu was detected, Rajorasaid, adding 447 eggs were also destroyed.

Spraying of disinfectant in 2,300 houses has been completed and 23 villages were declared as 'high-security risk zone', he said, adding compensation of Rs 2.12 lakh was distributed among the poultry farmers.

During the culling operations, two veterinary expansion officers Dr D K Jain (Indore) and Dr Naveen Shivhare (Sehore) were suspended for allegedly violating directives by failing to join the rapid response teams, Rajora said.

The state government had collected around 300 samples from border districts falling within 20km radius of infected areas in Maharashtra and was awaiting test results, he said, adding apart from Ichhapur, the disease was not detected in any other place in Madhya Pradesh.