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At least 500 people, mostly children, were affected after they allegedly consumed poisonous food in lower Assam's Barpeta district on Thursday night, official sources said on Friday.
Children, most of them school-going, who participated in a government rally, 'Peace and Development Week', fell ill after they were served gram at Keotkuchi and Bhilla villages, the sources said.
Barpeta Deputy Commissioner Ranjendra Prasad said the blood samples of the affected people had been collected and would be tested to ascertain the exact reason for the food poisoning.
Prasad said a team of doctors have been deputed to Bhilla and Keotkuchi villages and would be available round-the-clock for treatment of the victims.
A team of seven doctors with attendants have been specially posted in the Barpeta civil hospital for treating serious patients, he said.
Prasad said more than one thousand people, including children, from nearby villages had congregated in Bhilla villlage for the peace march organised by the government to mark the Quit India movement.
"They were reportedly served gram and this morning some complained of vomiting and fever," Prasad said.
Some of the victims were treated at the two medical camps set up in the area and discharged, while at least 150 'serious cases' were treated at Barpeta Civil Hospital and Guwahati Medical College Hospital, official sources said.
One serious patient, a 22 year-old man has been referred to the Guwahati Medical College hospital he said.
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