Gaya: Around 100 people fell ill after taking purportedly stale or poisoned food at a community wedding feast in Mura Budhauk village of Wazirganj police station area on Wednesday night.

Seventy-one of them have been admitted to Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH). The others are undergoing treatment at the local public health centre.

Those admitted to the hospital include 16 boys and 14 girls. The condition of one boy and girl was said to be serious and they have been shifted to the hospital's intensive care unit. District magistrate (DM) Abhishekh Singh said prima facie it was a case of eating "stale" sweets.

Asked about the possibility of adulterated ingredients being used in its preparation, the DM said the possibility cannot be ruled out and he has ordered preservation of the food sample and its subsequent lab testing.

The DM said that as soon as reports of food poisoning reached the district headquarters, adequate number of ambulances were dispatched.

The DM and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Garima Malik visited ANMMCH and issued instructions to the hospital authorities for proper treatment and to discharge patients only after they were fit for discharge.

Reports reaching the district headquarters say the food was made early and served late on account of delayed arrival of the wedding guests.

According to hospital superintendent S.K. Sinha, all patients were out of danger and even those who shifted to the ICU would be there for extra care.

The DM said an advisory would soon be issued to event managers and marriage party hosts on how to make and preserve food for mass intake.