Amid the outbreak of bird flu in several states across the country, five birds were found dead at the city's prime tourist spot-Sukhna Lake triggering panic in the city.

Carcasses of four birds were found at the regulator end of Sukhna Lake on Wednesday while a carcass of Common Coot was found on Tuesday evening. A dead fish and frog were also found near Common Coot at the Lake.

After the deaths, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department has sent samples to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Jalandhar for bird flu testing. More than 200 samples taken from poultry birds, water bodies, environmental elements in the city have been sent for testing.

The deaths of birds at Sukhna Lake are reported at a time when more than 2700 migratory birds have died at Himachal’s Pong Dam due to deadly avian influenza- H5N1. Bird flu has also affected states namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

“Five birds have been found dead till Wednesday evening at the Lake. These birds included Common Coot, Pigeon, Crow, Egret and Cormorant. Samples have been sent to RDDL, Jalandhar for testing and the report is likely to be received in next two days,” said Debendra Dalai, UT Chief Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden while talking to The Pioneer.

Dalai said that in view of bird flu alert across the country and directions received from the Centre, the field officials and all concerned in Chandigarh have been kept on high alert to keep a strict vigil and look for possible symptoms or mortality of birds.

He said that as of now, no symptoms of bird flu have been reported in migratory birds at the Sukhna Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary area. Some of the bird flu symptoms in avian species include diarrhoea, head tilt, paralysis and sluggish behaviour. Apart from the field staff, the bird watchers and visitors to Sukhna Lake and other water bodies have been requested to report to the Department of Forest and Wildlife, in case of any such symptoms, Dalai added.

The Department has decided not to close Sukhna Lake and Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary for the visitors till the confirmation of the bird flu. Notably, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had sent guidelines on January 3 relating to Avian Influenza to all states and union territories with an aim to ensure implementation of all precautionary measures to check the spread of virus.

Earlier, it was in the year 2014 when bird flu was detected in ducks at Sukhna Lake and more than 90 ducks were culled as a part of control and containment measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza, H5N1 in the city.

During this winter season, more than 1000 migratory birds have reached water bodies in Chandigarh. The migratory birds, while escaping cold biting conditions in their areas, and braving the high snow-laden peaks of Himalayas, reach India every year for their winter sojourn.