Alappuzha (Kerala) Oct 26 (IANS): With four villages in Alappuzha district reporting ducks dropping dead, authorities have called a meeting on Thursday to decide if ducks in a one-kilometre radius, covering these villages, need to be culled.

District officials on Wednesday burnt the dead ducks in the affected four villages, with Thakazhi reporting the maximum.

Around 500 dead ducks in Thakazhi village were burnt and the district authorities have decided to haold a final meeting of all stakeholders on Thursday to decide if culling needs to be undertaken in these four villages.

Two years ago, thousands of ducks and hens were culled in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts following the outbreak of avian flu, which was then confirmed as H5N1 virus.

Keeping that in mind, state's Animal Husbandry Minister K. Raju earlier this week asked the district administration to investigate and warned the farmers to immediately report if poultry birds drop dead in significant numbers.