Four crows were found dead at Shakti Sthal close to Delhi’s Raj Ghat on Saturday, adding to fears that a strain of the avian influenza virus has hit the region. At least 77 birds have died from the disease so far, PTI reported, though experts have maintained that it will not affect human beings. The government has sent samples of the carcasses to a laboratory in Bhopal for examination.

The Congress has had to change plans for its event to mark the death of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Monday, after officials shut down the Shakti Sthal memorial following the scare. The party will organise a march from its headquarters on Akbar Road to the Indira Gandhi memorial museum instead, Hindustan Times reported. At least four other birds have died at Shakti Sthal over the past few weeks, the Economic Times reported.

The Union government had on Wednesday set up a high-level committee to monitor the avian influenza situation in the country and guide state governments in their efforts against the virus. The Delhi zoo had been shut down temporarily on October 19 after eight birds died from suspected avian influenza, followed by the Hauz Khas Deer Park on October 20 for similar reasons. Gwalior zoo was also shut down on October 21 after 15 birds died of the suspected virus. The reports of bird flu weeks after India declared itself free from the contagious H5N1 virus.