More than 100 villagers fall ill after consuming Shivaratri sherbet

Salepur: As many as 100 persons were taken ill reportedly after consuming sherbet during the Maha Shivaratri celebrations last night at Raisunguda in Salepur tehsil of Cuttack district.

While 40 villagers have been admitted to the Raisunguda hospital, 20 are undergoing treatment at the Mahanga community healthcare centre and 30 others admitted to Salepur hospital.

Nine affected persons were shifted to the SCB Hospital and Medical College in Cuttack after their condition deteriorated.

Doctors and nurses from periphery hospitals have been called in to these hospitals to attend to the growing number of patients. While some have been attended to and given the requisite medicines, many others are waiting for their turn due to lack of beds and doctors, sources said.

"Enough doctors are present and some of them have been deployed from Salepur and Cuttack hospitals to Raisunguda hospital," said Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Biswa Kalyan Patnaik.

On the other hand, the local police launched a manhunt to trace the sherbet seller.