Contaminated cough syrup consumption: two more children dead in MP’s Chhindwara

Two more children have died in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district after consuming a contaminated cough syrup, taking the death toll to 16, 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 consumed the cough syrup Coldrif. Tests on samples of the syrup revealed the presence of toxic substances.

Two-year-old Jayusha Yaduvanshi from Junnardeo died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Nagpur. Another child, two-and-a-half-year-old Dhani Deharia from Bhariyadhana village in Tamia block, died on Monday at Nagpur Medical College hospital.

Her family claimed that her health deteriorated after taking the cough syrup prescribed by a doctor, leading to kidney failure.

Six other children from Chhindwara are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in Nagpur. Five of them are in critical condition, according to officials.

A government official in Bhopal had earlier stated that nine children from Madhya Pradesh were under treatment in Nagpur — seven from Chhindwara and two from Betul.

In response to the deaths, the state government on Monday suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The state’s drug controller was also transferred.

Police have arrested Chhindwara-based Dr. Praveen Soni for negligence. A case has been filed against the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer of the Coldrif cough syrup.

The Madhya Pradesh Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case and identify lapses that led to the tragedy.