Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Saturday that the state government will provide an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each of the eleven children who died in Chhindwara district. The deaths are suspected to be linked to the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup.

The tragic situation unfolded between September 4 and September 26, when several children in the Parasia area of Chhindwara developed kidney-related complications after initially exhibiting symptoms of cold, cough, and fever. Health officials launched an investigation into the deaths, suspecting contaminated cough syrup as a potential cause.

Preliminary investigations and family accounts pointed towards Coldrif cough syrup as a common factor among the deceased. Samples of the syrup were collected from a pharmaceutical unit in Jabalpur and sent to a laboratory for testing.

Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Naresh Gunnade stated that a team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the state-level Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was called to investigate the kidney failures. They collected human, water, and other relevant samples for examination. While some human sample reports have been received, Dr. Gunnade noted that nothing serious was detected in them.

As a precautionary measure, the state government has banned the sale of Coldrif syrup across Madhya Pradesh. Raids are being conducted to confiscate any remaining stock of the syrup. Additionally, the state government has suspended all other medicines manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

Concerns initially arose around the presence of diethylene glycol, a toxic substance, in the cough syrup. According to reports, 594 bottles of the syrup were distributed to three distributors in Chhindwara, while 66 bottles remained with the company. Sixteen bottles have been sent for testing, and the remaining stock has been prohibited from sale. A team has been formed to investigate the matter, and the Drug Inspector has been notified to freeze any remaining stock at the three firms.

Following the initial reports, a 10-bed ward was established at Parasia Government Hospital. While early reports indicated six deaths, the number has since risen to eleven.

The incident has prompted increased vigilance and investigation into the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products in the region.