Following reports linking it to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Tamil Nadu government has banned the sale of 'Coldrif' cough syrup and ordered its removal from the market. The Department of Drugs Control Administration (DDCA) has prohibited the sale of Coldrif cough syrup in Tamil Nadu and has frozen all stock at the manufacturer's plant in Kancheepuram.
The ban was initiated after communication from the Controller, Food and Drug Administration, Madhya Pradesh, concerning the deaths of children in the Chhindwara district of the state. The cough syrup is suspected to be the cause of death of six children in the last three weeks. According to health officials, at least 11 children, nine in Madhya Pradesh and two in Rajasthan, have died after reportedly consuming the syrup. Preliminary postmortem examinations indicated the presence of diethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical, in the kidney tissues of the deceased children.
S Gurubharathi, Deputy Director of Drugs Control cum Controlling and Licensing Authority, has instructed all drug inspectors across the state to prevent the sale of Coldrif by pharmacies and to freeze the stock wherever available until further orders.
The Union Health Ministry has launched a multi-agency investigation after reports suggested that the syrups may contain traces of diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical known to cause severe kidney damage. Samples collected from the affected children have been sent to the Virology Institute in Pune for testing. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), Dr Rajivsing Reghuvanshi, has ordered an immediate inspection of the manufacturing unit of Coldrif, located in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram district, in Tamil Nadu. Dr M K Sreenivasan, the Deputy Drug Controller at the CDSCO's south zone office in Chennai, confirmed that the inspection is underway.
The manufacturing company's proprietor, Ranganathan, stated that the company, which has been operating for over 45 years, has had no prior safety lapses and asserted that a definitive link between the syrup and the deaths has yet to be established. The ban will remain in effect until safety is unequivocally proven.
Drug Controller of the Union Territory of Pondicherry, Dr U Anandakrishnan, confirmed that his department conducted a thorough survey of all pharmacies in the region but found no distribution of the Coldrif syrup.
The police had sought judicial custody for Chaitanyananda, accused of molesting 17 women students at a private management institute in New Delhi. His counsel moved an application seeking the supply of the seizure memo and the case diaries, which was allowed by the court. The court sought a response from police on other applications seeking the wearing of monk robes, providing medicines and "sanyasi" food. The 62-year-old was apprehended from Agra on September 28. Earlier, the police froze Rs 8 crore, linked to Saraswati, parked in multiple bank accounts and fixed deposits.
Authorities are warning against self-medication and advising the public to follow strict prescription protocols.
