Tinsukia Bans Pork Trade Following New Swine Fever Outbreak

Guwahati: Tinsukia officials have clamped down on pork trade after an African Swine Fever outbreak hit Simoluguri village. This is the second time the disease has struck the district in six weeks. The first incident surfaced June 9 in Ouguri village. Now, the administration is moving fast to stop the spread.

Authorities identified Simoluguri, located under the Kailashpur Gaon Panchayat in the Margherita Revenue Circle, as the infection's epicentre. Officials established a 1-km infected zone around the village. They also mapped a 10-km surveillance zone to monitor the situation. Veterinary teams will run culling operations from July 21 to July 23.

The mandate covers the Digboi Co-District. Every shop selling pork must shut down for 30 days. You cannot move pigs or pork products within or outside the co-district. This includes shipments bound for neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. The order states, "violations will attract action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita."

African Swine Fever kills almost every pig it touches. Since 2020, the disease has claimed more than 40,000 pigs across 22 Assam districts. Over 14,000 families rely on pig farming for survival. The administration is using the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to enforce these rules. Experts warn everyone to cooperate with containment teams to prevent a wider disaster.