Hohhot (China), July 28 (Xinhua) More than 1,150 people have sought medication for gastrointenstinal illnesses after consuming contaminated water in northern China's Inner Mongolia region, health authorities said Tuesday.

Fifteen people were hospitalised while others took medicines for their illness which is blamed on the polluted water supplied through taps in Chifeng city in southeastern Mongolia, a spokesman with the city's health department said.

He said most of the patients had mild illness and their symptoms subsided by the time they visited the hospital.

The patients complained of fever, diarrhoea and vomiting after drinking tap water at home Saturday and Sunday.

The local government has promised free medication to all victims.