Dharamshala: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur reached here by helicopter this morning to review the measures being taken to contain the spread of H5N1 – avian flu that has spread to other parts of the state and has killed several thousand migratory birds at Pong Dam Bird Sanctuary. Migratory birds such as Siberian Crane, Bar-headed Geese, and many other species, in large numbers, winter at the Pong Dam lake every year.
On arrival, Thakur said, “The government took some immediate steps on confirmation of this virus, like sealing of the 10 km area around the lake and keeping it on surveillance. A team of the forest and Animal Husbandry is working there to prevent its further spread. We are also checking about this virus around the other water bodies in the state, but till now other areas are safe.” To date, more than 3000 migratory birds have died in the area.
He said that this type of infection has also reached many other areas of the country and it is believed that the migratory birds are the carriers of this virus. He said that a high-level meeting is being held here to take other recommended steps so that this virus is restricted from further spread.
He said that the situation of Covid 19 shall also be reviewed in another meeting. He said, “We are happy that there is a steep decline about the Covid cases in the state during the past few days, and we shall discuss the further steps so that our officials should remain on alert during the coming period too.”The CM shall return back to Shimla on Saturday.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
