Ninety domesticated geese were culled at Chandigarh’s landmark Sukhna Lake on Thursday after a sample from a dead bird tested positive for avian flu virus.
A high alert has been sounded in 10-km area of Punjab and Haryana.
The Chandigarh administration has cordoned off the lake which receives thousands of migratory birds every winter.
The lake would remain out of bounds for the morning walkers, tourists and other visitors.
The authorities are awaiting results of samples of nearly 30 birds died recently.
The decision for culling was taken after a team from the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar led by Joint Director Vinay Mohan met the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Commissioner V.P. Singh, Environment and Wildlife director Santosh Kumar and other administration officials.
City hospitals have been directed to prepare isolated wards.
