BHOPAL: The number of children who died after consuming cough syrup in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has risen to 11. The death toll rose after 9 children died on Friday in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. The preliminary conclusion is that the deaths were caused by contaminated cough syrup containing the toxic chemical diethylene glycol. Dr Tarachand Yogi, a doctor at the Community Health Centre, also drank the syrup himself to prove it was safe. He later collapsed and is now undergoing treatment.
The children first came to the hospital with a fever, for which the doctor prescribed medicine and cough syrup. The fever subsided, but after a few days, the children developed fever again, along with reduced urination. This led to kidney infections. Although the children were then taken to Nagpur