Chhindwara: The death toll in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district due to contaminated cough syrup has risen to 16 after two more children undergoing treatment for kidney failure succumbed, officials said on Tuesday.
“Today, the death of another girl was reported. So far, 16 children have died in the district,” said Chhindwara Additional Collector Dhirendra Singh.
Earlier, the state government had confirmed the deaths of 14 children who had allegedly consumed the cough syrup Coldrif, samples of which were found to contain toxic substances.
The latest victims include Jayusha Yaduvanshi (2), a resident of Junnardeo, who died at a government hospital in Nagpur, and Dhani Deharia (2½), from Bhariyadhana village in Tamia block, who passed away on Monday while undergoing treatment at Nagpur Medical College hospital. Her family claimed her health deteriorated after consuming the syrup prescribed by a doctor, leading to kidney failure.
Currently, six children from Chhindwara are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Nagpur, with five in critical condition, the Additional Collector added. A state government official in Bhopal had earlier stated that nine children from Madhya Pradesh were receiving treatment in Nagpur, seven from Chhindwara and two from Betul.
In response to the tragedy, the state government suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and transferred the state’s drug controller as part of an ongoing investigation.
Dr Praveen Soni, based in Chhindwara, was arrested for alleged negligence, while a case has been registered against the Tamil Nadu-based company that manufactured Coldrif cough syrup. The Madhya Pradesh Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the deaths.
This incident has sparked widespread concern over drug safety standards and regulatory oversight in the state.
With PTI inputs