Cuttack: Nearly 200 people were taken ill on Wednesday night at Raisunguda in Salipur police limits, 40km from here, after they consumed sherbet during Shivratri celebrations.

Most of them were children, who were rushed to primary health centre at Raisunguda and the nearest community health centres at Mahanga and Salipur when they started vomiting after having the drink.

Cuttack district medical officer Dr Biswakalyan Pattnaik said all those admitted at the three health centres had been reported out of danger.

"It seemed to be a case of food poisoning. After administering medicine, the condition of those taken ill are stable. Almost all of them were discharged by 6pm on Thursday," he said.

In another development, police launched a manhunt for persons, who had collectively opened the sherbet kiosk near the Swapmeswar temple at Raisunguda, where hundreds of devotees gathered for the Jagara Jatra during Shivratri.

Salipur police station inspector-in-charge P.K. Majhi said people complaining of vomiting and loose motion had started turning up at Raisunguda primary health centre from around midnight.

With more people turning up during the night, they were sent to the nearest community health centres.

All of them complained that they were taken ill after taking the sherbet from the shop near the temple.

"No case has been registered so far. But, we are on the lookout for the persons who had opened the sherbet shop as they have gone absconding," Majhi. "If necessary we will suo motu register a case," he said.

Pattnaik said the condition of some of those taken ill and, therefore, shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital was stable and ready for discharge.

School protest

Parents of students locked up the upper primary school building at Tulanga village in Tirtol block of Jagansinghpur to protest against the misuse of school development grants by the school management committee. They allege that the government grants for infrastructure projects of the school were embezzled. "An inquiry has been instituted to ascertain the veracity of the allegations. If the inquiry finds prima facie evidence, action will be taken against those found guilty," said additional block education officer Nibedita Pratihari.