70 fall ill after eating 'prasad' in Tripura

Around 70 people, including women and children, fell sick after eating 'prasad' - offering to deity - in Tripura, an official said Thursday.

At least 27 of them were hospitalised.

"About 70 people, including women and children, suffered stomach pain and disorders like loose motions after eating 'prasad' at a religious function at Udaipur (60 km from Agartala) Wednesday night," a health official said.

He said of the 70 people 27 have been admitted to the government-run Tripura Sundari Hospital in Gomati. The remaining people have taken treatment from the OPD (out patient department) of the hospital.

Residents told reporters that the number of people fallen sick after consuming the 'prasad' - the offering to the deity - is over 100 as some people have taken treatment privately at their homes.