Contaminated cough syrup claims 20 lives; 5 remain critical

Officials confirmed that at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh have died after consuming a toxic cough syrup called Coldrif, while five others remain in critical condition and are receiving treatment in Nagpur. The incident has led to increased scrutiny of the manufacturer and regulatory systems across different states.

Most of the deceased children were from Chhindwara district, with additional cases reported from Betul and Pandhurna. The children reportedly suffered kidney failure after drinking the syrup, which was produced by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.

Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla, who visited Nagpur, said that two of the critically ill children are admitted at AIIMS, two at a government hospital, and one at a private facility. He emphasised that doctors are making every effort to save their lives and also met with the families of the victims.

Police officials said a team from Chhindwara had arrived in Kancheepuram to arrest the owner of the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the contaminated syrup. Madhya Pradesh Police have also set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and filed a case against the firm, TNIE reported.

Authorities confirmed that Dr Praveen Soni, who prescribed the syrup, was arrested on negligence charges. However, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Dilip Bhanushali defended him, claiming that systemic failures by the company and regulators were equally to blame.

The IMA expressed concern about what it described as the incompetence of India’s drug regulatory system and criticised the handling of the incident. It demanded swift action against the actual culprits, proper compensation for the affected families, and protection for the doctor, whom it called a victim of defamation.

Preliminary findings suggested that the cough syrup may have contained toxic substances. Investigators also noted that the medicine, which was not recommended for children under four years, had been freely available in the market.

Officials in Madhya Pradesh said the state government had suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration, while transferring Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya as part of disciplinary action.

The Union Health Ministry confirmed that 19 samples of the cough syrup had been collected for testing. Of the 10 results received so far, one sample failed to meet quality standards, though the others complied with regulatory norms. The ministry also announced that risk-based inspections were being carried out across pharmaceutical units in six states to identify possible lapses in production and testing.

Authorities added that the problem was no longer confined to Madhya Pradesh, as similar cases were emerging in Rajasthan. Multiple states—including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh—have already banned Coldrif syrup, seized affected batches, and begun separate probes into its circulation. The Maharashtra FDA specifically restricted the sale and use of Batch No. SR-13, which had tested contaminated.

Officials said states have started rolling out stricter safety measures after the tragedy. Rajasthan, for instance, has launched door-to-door surveys, awareness drives, and technical committees to examine child health concerns, while also requiring syrups considered harmful to children and pregnant women to carry special warning labels. In Uttar Pradesh, contaminated Coldrif batches and other products from the same manufacturer were seized after nationwide alerts.

Families of the children remain grief-stricken. Opposition leaders have demanded greater accountability, with the Congress party stressing that a government-led probe “cannot uncover the full truth.” The party argued that only an independent judicial inquiry could properly examine systemic lapses in drug regulation that may have played a role in the deaths.