Following a report by the Times of India (TOI), authorities in Madhya Pradesh have acknowledged that two more deaths are linked to the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup, bringing the total number of fatalities to 17. These deaths occurred over a span of 43 days and involved children who suffered renal failure and severe brain damage due to the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) in the syrup.
The presence of DEG, a toxic industrial solvent used in antifreeze and brake fluid, was found to be nearly 500% above permissible limits in the Coldrif syrup. This dangerous level of contamination has sparked widespread concern and prompted investigations into the manufacturing and distribution of the drug.
Both of the most recently deceased victims, Jayashu Yaduvanshi and Vedansh Pawar, were two years old and undergoing treatment in Nagpur. Doctors have stated that DEG is particularly harmful because it binds to brain tissues and is extremely difficult to filter out of the body.
In response to the rising death toll, officials have initiated a door-to-door survey to retrieve any remaining bottles of the banned Coldrif syrup. The state government had previously banned the sale of Coldrif, effective October 1st, and ordered the removal of existing stocks from the market.
The incident has triggered a series of actions, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. A case has been registered against Shreesan Pharmaceuticals, the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer of Coldrif. A pediatrician from Chhindwara, Dr. Praveen Soni, who prescribed the syrup, was arrested, and his clinic was sealed. However, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has defended Dr. Soni, attributing the tragedy to lapses by the pharmaceutical company and systemic failures in drug regulation.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has directed drug controllers in all states and union territories to ensure strict testing and monitoring of medicines. This directive includes intensified inspections, mandatory batch testing of raw materials and finished products, and verification that ingredients are sourced only from approved vendors. The drug regulator has acknowledged serious lapses in pharmaceutical manufacturing practices.
The incident echoes similar tragedies in Gambia and Uzbekistan in 2022, where cough syrups manufactured in India and tainted with DEG led to the deaths of numerous children. This has raised concerns about the credibility of India's drug manufacturing system.
Amid the crisis, one-year-old Pratik Pawar, who had been administered a different brand of cough syrup, recovered from kidney failure and encephalopathy after treatment in a Nagpur hospital, offering a glimmer of hope.
The Madhya Pradesh government has faced criticism for its initial response to the crisis. Doctors in Nagpur had raised concerns about suspected DEG poisoning as early as September 22nd, but the state government did not confirm the link between the syrup and the deaths until October 3rd.
The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, seeking detailed reports on the deaths. The Union Health Ministry has ordered risk-based inspections across pharmaceutical sites, and production has been suspended at multiple facilities found in violation.
