Poultry deaths in Malda continue , ARD awaits reports

MALDA, March 17: Poultry deaths continue unabated in Malda district despite efforts of the animal resource development to stem the rot.Last night at least 132 chickens including chicks died in a state farm at English Bazaar. It takes the chicken death toll in the current phase to 551 since Wednesday, ARD officials said. “We could not check chicken deaths. We are waiting for the investigation report,” said Mr NK Shit, deputy director, animal resource development in Malda. The ARD officials have stopped the sale of birds from the farm as the chickens are ailing.Though ARD officials primarily claimed that the cause of chicken deaths was fowl cholera and found dross among several chickens, they are in no position to ascertain the cause of the disease.The office bearer for ARD in Malda zilla parishad, Mr Soumitra Roy today informed the matter to ARD minister Mr Anisur Rahman and requested him to check the investigation reports. “No body informed the minister about the serious situation at the Malda farm. Mr Rahman was surprised to hear it from me,” Mr Roy said. The Malda district magistrate, Mr C R Das said: “Let us see the laboratory test report. We must take necessary steps based on the lab report of the dead birds. There is no confirmation of Bird Flu here.” n sns