Zoo closure hits revellers

PATNA: The sudden closure of

Patna zoo

due to the outbreak of bird flu on Christmas poured cold water on the plans of several visitors. Most of them left after waiting for a long time outside the zoo and went to other popular places like Eco Park. Makeshift stalls, selling food items, snacks and ice creams near gates 1 and 2 of the zoo, also moved to other places.

Railway employee Renjith Nair, who is a native of Kerala and posted at Jamalpur, had gone to Patna zoo with his wife. “When we reached the zoo, we saw a huge crowd. We were disappointed like others when we heard about the outbreak of bird flu,” he said, adding they wouldn’t go to any other place as they were all crowded.

A group of friends also left after inquiring about the sudden closure of the zoo. “We were looking forward to visiting popular places like the zoo and the museum on Christmas. We will now go to the museum and have fun together,” Class XI student Sonam Kumari told this reporter.

National Institute of Technology-Patna Arnob, who had also gone to the zoo with his friends, was disappointed to see the locked gates. “If rumours of bird flu are true, the zoo authorities have done the right thing. I hope the situation is under control,” he said.

Nala Road resident Amritanshu Pandey and his family members also returned home after they heard about the zoo’s closure. “There are not many places to hang out in Patna. Where do we go now?” he asked.

According to zoo director Amit Kumar, “During festive times, the flow of visitors is five times more than that on normal days. We, however, shut the zoo for the interest of the public.”

Money to be refunded

In a statement issued on Tuesday, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi assured that people, who had made bookings at Patna zoo for New Year celebrations, would get back their money soon.