As some sit watching an action movie, others line up along the long tables set up in an enclosed area that has sleeping arrangements as well. For caterer G Krishnakanta Sharma and head cook G Basanta Sharma, this is a new experience.

“We have catered for weddings and funerals, Government functions and medical camps as well. But for the first time, we are taking medication (Tamiflu) before entering the premises. We prepare the food at our kitchen, and wash used utensils in hot water as an added precaution. We’re cooking around 600 meals per day and it costs us Rs 25,000 on average, after subsidising our services keeping the situation in mind,” says Krishnakanta.

An added advantage is that, being Brahmin cooks, they don’t prepare chicken and eggs anyway.

Talking amidst the groups of RRT members relaxing after a long day is V&AH Director Th Dorendra Singh. “It can never be that I’m taking my meals in my office while my sepoys are down here. I’ll eat what everyone is having. We have to keep the morale up for these people who are doing the hard work of fighting the avian flu,” adds Dorendra as he walks over for his dinner.

In a couple of hours, it’ll be time for the announcement of each of the 34 teams’ area of operation for the next day, and then a chance to catch up on sleep. “Even though culling operations are drawing to a close, sanitisation remains. This means at least another week under quarantine,” they smile.