Cuttack: The municipal corporation's health wing has swung into action after nearly 200 people fell ill at Raisunguda in Salipur police station limits after they consumed sherbet during the Shivratri celebrations on Wednesday night.

The health squads have started inspection to check the hygiene status of the shops selling sherbet and lassi in various parts of the city.

"The food inspectors are at work to ensure that the temporary shops adhere to basic hygiene while selling sherbet and lassi to the people," municipal commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra said on Saturday.

Temporary shops start selling sherbet and lassi from Shivratri. Nearly 200 such shops come up across the city and continue to do brisk business till the end of summer.

Sources said more than 30 shops had been inspected and over 100kg ice along with chemicals used for flavour and colour to the sherbet had been destroyed since Friday.

"We are trying to prevent lapses in the storage of ice and quality of ingredients, particularly minced coconut and curd," a food inspector said. "Many shops were found storing ice in unhygienic conditions. They have been asked to ensure proper hygiene."

For opening the sherbet and lassi shops, the civic body issues temporary licences following the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Salipur police have sent to the State Forensic Laboratory samples of the sherbet sold at a kiosk near the Swapneswar temple at Raisunguda during the Shivratri celebrations.