BHOPAL: The deaths of seven out of nine children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district were traced to a poisonous cough syrup, Coldrif, which was found to contain a highly toxic industrial chemical, diethylene glycol (DEG). Laboratory tests conducted in Tamil Nadu confirmed the presence of the substance in the syrup, prompting the Madhya Pradesh govt to ban the sale of Coldrif and all other medicines manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Tamil Nadu-based company that makes the product. Seven out of 9 kids who had died had consumed the same syrup say sources. The confirmation came in a report from the Director of Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu, sent to the Madhya Pradesh govt on October 4. The report declared Coldrif syrup (Batch No. SR-13, manufactured May 2025, expiring Apri

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