Bhopal, October 5: The Madhya Pradesh government has taken immediate action to ban the sale of Coldrif cough syrup after 14 children in Chhindwara district reportedly died due to suspected kidney failure. Preliminary investigations revealed that the syrup contained a highly toxic substance. The deaths have raised serious concerns regarding the safety of the drug.
The Union Health Ministry confirmed that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has launched risk-based inspections across six states, including at the manufacturing units of 19 drugs, such as cough syrups and antibiotics. The affected samples have raised alarms about the potential hazards associated with the syrup.
The government drug analyst in Chennai tested a sample of Coldrif, which was found to be "Not of Standard Quality" by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drug Control. According to officials, this analysis confirmed the presence of harmful substances in the syrup.
The ban was enforced in the wake of the tragic deaths in Chhindwara, where 14 children succumbed to suspected kidney failure. Out of these, 10 deaths were reported from Parasia subdivision since September 7. On Saturday, a two-year-old girl named Yogita, from Parasia, passed away in a hospital in Nagpur, raising the toll further. Local authorities confirmed that six children are still under medical care, with three in critical condition.
To support the bereaved families, the government has sanctioned financial aid of Rs 4 lakh for each of the families of the deceased children. Of those who lost their lives, 11 were from Parasia, two from Chhindwara city, and one from Chaurai tehsil.
As a precaution, the local administration had already prohibited the sale of Coldrif and another cough syrup, 'Nextro-DS,' earlier this week. While the report on Coldrif was received on Saturday, testing for Nextro-DS is still pending.
On October 2, Tamil Nadu’s drug control authorities identified a sample of Coldrif (Batch No SR-13; Mfg: May 2025; Exp: April 2027) from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Kancheepuram, as adulterated. The sample contained 48.6% diethylene glycol, a harmful chemical known to cause severe health issues, including kidney damage.
Following the findings, the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration issued an immediate order to halt the sale and distribution of Coldrif statewide. Authorities have also instructed that all available stock be seized for investigation, and other products from the same manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, be removed from the market pending further testing.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the deaths as "extremely tragic" and vowed that strict actions would be taken against those responsible. "The sale of this syrup has been banned across Madhya Pradesh, and a ban is also being imposed on other products from the same company," he said in a statement on social media.
In response to the deaths, Tamil Nadu also imposed a ban on Coldrif after similar fatalities were reported in Rajasthan due to suspected kidney issues linked to the syrup.
The National Institute of Virology in Pune is conducting further tests on the samples from the affected children, while investigations into the contamination and adulteration of the syrup continue. A team of experts from various national agencies, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), CDSCO, and AIIMS Nagpur, are working together to determine the cause of these deaths and to assess any potential public health risks.
The ongoing investigation aims to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that such tragic incidents are prevented in the future.
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