Chhindwara: A paediatrician in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district has been arrested after 10 children died from suspected poisoning caused by a contaminated cough syrup, sparking widespread outrage, officials said on Sunday.
The victims were among several children treated at the private clinic of Dr Praveen Soni in Parasia. Soni, who also works as a government doctor, had prescribed the cough syrup Coldrif for common ailments such as cough and seasonal fever.
Initially, the children showed signs of recovery, but their condition soon deteriorated. They developed severe complications, including kidney failure, which eventually proved fatal.
Following the deaths, the state government registered a case against Srisan Pharmaceuticals, a Tamil Nadu-based company in Kanchipuram that manufactures Coldrif. Tests revealed the syrup contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent.
According to officials, analysis by the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai found the syrup to have 48.6 per cent diethylene glycol. The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drug Control declared the batch “Not of Standard Quality”, prompting Madhya Pradesh to ban the sale and distribution of Coldrif.
As a precaution, authorities also halted the sale of another syrup, Nextro-DS, pending test results. While the toxic report for Coldrif was confirmed on Saturday, the outcome for Nextro-DS is awaited.
The crisis began after children treated with the syrup developed drastically reduced urine output, a sign of acute kidney injury. Kidney biopsies later confirmed diethylene glycol poisoning.
The children were first admitted to Chhindwara District Hospital, but as their condition worsened, some were referred to Nagpur in Maharashtra for advanced treatment. Three children died in Nagpur, while six others succumbed in Chhindwara over the following days.
Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into how the contaminated syrup entered the supply chain and why it was prescribed. Officials have been directed to keep strict surveillance on Coldrif and enforce the ban fully.
Health authorities have urged parents to avoid using Coldrif and to report any adverse reactions in children to the nearest health facility.