Chandigarh Administration swung into action after it came to light today that one of the ducks at city's famous Sukhna lake had died of feared avian influenza.
However, authorities said the situation was being monitored closely and there was no cause for panic.
The administration got alert after it was confirmed that one of the ducks which had died mysteriously recently had perished due to H5N1.
"In view of the death of some ducks in Sukhna lake in the past few days, some samples of carcasses were sent to RDDL (the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory) Jalandhar for testing.
"In turn, the lab sent some samples for further testing to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.
"Out of the six samples sent to Bhopal for investigation, one sample has been found positive for H5N1," according to a statement issued by the administration here tonight.
The UT administration is constantly in touch with Union Government officials and is fully prepared to handle any contingency, the statement said, adding the public are requested not to panic and co-operate with the administration at this stage.
The island area where the ducks are residing has been fenced and movement of the birds has been restricted.
Police personnel as well as Forest Rangers have been deployed in the lake area to ensure that people are kept at a distance from the ducks and to prevent any direct contact.
It said the Central Poultry Development Organisation, Chandigarh has been asked by the concerned Central Government Ministry "to take all necessary precaution for prevention of ingress of disease as per the standard Surveillance Plan."
"At present, there is no assessment regarding any outbreak of bird flu in Chandigarh. The situation is, however, being very closely monitored by the Union government's concerned office. The Chandigarh Administration is in constant contact also with the officers dealing with the matter," it said.
