Siraha, March 2:

More than a dozen chicken belonging to two poultry farms in the district died of an unidentified disease last night triggering fear of bird flu outbreak in the area.

The chicken died in the farms owned by Ramdev Mandal in Mirchaiya VDC-3 and Ramsewak Mahara in Materwa VDC-5. Eleven chicken from Mahara’s farm and eight from Mandal’s farm died last night, a local, Avarendra Yadav, said.

The District Livestock Service Office, Siraha, has sent a team of veterinarians equipped with necessary medicines to the area, according to Dr Mohammad Mustafa of the office. “The chickens might have died of cold. However, the reason for the deaths could be ascertained only after tests,” he said.

Ram Kripal Shah, deputy assistant technician at Area Livestock Service Office, Ramnagar Mirchaiya, said the area was under watch.

Meanwhile, meat-sellers in the area have started selling chicken at a reduced price, suspecting that the chicken might have died of bird flu, Jivachha Sah, former chairman of Mirchaiya VDC, said. “They are selling chicken at a price of Rs 40 per kg. Earlier, they used to sell chicken at Rs 180,” he added.