Culling of birds began in 42 villages on Saturday in the mountain foothill areas of Darjeeling district where avian flu has been detected.

District Magistrate Rajesh Pandey said 283 birds were reported to have died in and around Sukna area between April 27 and May 4 following which samples were sent to High Security Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal, which confirmed the outbreak of avian flu.

The report reached the district authorities on May 8 and culling of birds began on Saturday morning, he said.

Pandey said 25 culling teams spread to 41 villages -- 10 at Sukna in Kurseong sub-division and 31 others in adjacent Matigara, Atharokhai and upper and lower Bagdogra gram panchayat area where 18,000 chicken was targeted to be killed.
 
Trading and business of poultry products was banned in the area as per orders, he said.