325 birds culled after avian flu outbreak at Ranchi poultry farm
Ranchi, Feb 9 (PTI): A total of 325 birds were culled on Sunday, after an avian flu case was reported at a poultry farm of Birsa Agriculture University (BAU) in Ranchi, an official said.
The entire affected zone was also sanitised, he said.
"A total of 325 birds were culled. There is no need for panic as it was a localised incidence. The affected guinea fowls were kept for research purpose in the farm," District Animal Husbandry Officer (DAHO) Kavindra Nath Singh told PTI.
He said the authorities would map and notify areas within one-km radius on Monday. Places within a 10-km radius will be kept under surveillance, Singh said.
Around 150 guinea fowls have died over the past 20 days at the farm located in a veterinary college, officials said.
The presence of H5N1, a type of avian influenza A virus, was confirmed in the samples sent to the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, a Ranchi veterinary college official said.
The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has asked the state to take all measures to contain its spread, including declaration of infected and surveillance areas, restricting access to the affected premises and culling of birds.
The state’s animal husbandry department on Saturday issued an advisory and standard operating procedure (SOP), prohibiting sale and purchase of the birds in the area.
A control room is also being set up, which will be functional from Monday, another official said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
