NEW DELHI — Police in India have arrested the manager of a hotel after it allegedly served dry ice as mouth freshener to a group of diners.

Five people started vomiting, and their mouths started bleeding, after they consumed the sugar and spice mix, traditionally served after a meal.

Police say that the packet contained dry ice, a solid form of carbon dioxide used as a cooling agent.

All the customers had to be hospitalized following the incident.

On Tuesday, police in Gurugram city, where the restaurant is located, arrested its manager on charges of poisoning "with the intent to cause hurt or harm".

A search is also underway for the owner of the food joint, who is currently absconding.

Police said that Ankit Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida city, had visited the restaurant on Saturday along with his wife and friends.

After dinner, a waiter offered them a packet of mouth freshener. But as soon as they consumed it, their mouths started burning and bleeding and they also started vomiting, the police told BBC in a statement.

A video of the incident circulating on social media shows the customers screaming in pain - some of them can be seen putting ice in their mouths and gulping water to get rid of the burning sensation.

In their complaint, the customers have also accused the restaurant staff of refusing to help them.

A doctor later examined the contents of the packet of mouth freshener and confirmed it contained dry ice, police said.

The case in under investigation and the police said they are conducting a forensic analysis of the contents of the mouth freshener. — BBC