Tragedy in Madhya Pradesh: 11 Children Die from Contaminated Syrup

In a heartbreaking incident in Madhya Pradesh, 11 children have died after consuming a contaminated cough syrup, leading to the arrest of a local doctor. Dr. Praveen Soni, a paediatrician in Chhindwara, prescribed the Coldrif syrup, which has been linked to the fatalities. Most of the affected children were treated at his clinic in Parasia.

The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Dr. Soni and the manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, based in Tamil Nadu. The FIR was filed early on Sunday following a complaint from Dr. Ankit Sahlam, the Block Medical Officer at the Community Health Centre in Parasia. The complaint highlighted that the cough syrup contained diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical known to cause acute kidney failure.

Laboratory tests confirmed that Coldrif syrup contained 48.6% DEG, which is used in antifreeze and brake fluids. The state government has since banned the sale of Coldrif and ordered a crackdown on its distribution. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each deceased child and stated that the government would cover the medical expenses for those still receiving treatment.

The tragic deaths occurred over the past month, primarily affecting children under five years old. Symptoms began with mild cold and fever, but quickly escalated to severe kidney complications. Ten of the children died while receiving treatment at Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital.

In response to this crisis, the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation has initiated inspections of drug manufacturing units across six states, focusing on companies producing cough syrups and other medications. The situation has raised alarms nationwide, prompting several states to launch investigations and take precautionary measures to ensure public safety.