Saturday, October 11, 2025 - At least 20 children — all under the age of five — have died in India’s Madhya Pradesh state after consuming a toxic cough syrup reportedly contaminated with a deadly chemical.
The syrup, known as Coldrif, was produced by Tamil
Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, and tests revealed it contained diethylene
glycol (DEG) — a highly poisonous substance used in industrial products
like antifreeze — in quantities nearly 500 times above safe limits,
according to Reuters.
The company’s owner, S. Ranganathan, has been arrested following
the deaths, while authorities have banned the syrup and shut
down the company permanently, reports say.
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health
Minister, Rajendra Shukla, confirmed the incident, noting that most of the
victims were from Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna districts.
“The state
government is very active in taking action in this matter. As soon as we came
to know about the deaths, an immediate case was registered, and a Special
Investigation Team was constituted,” Shukla said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has described
DEG as a “toxic industrial chemical” that can be fatal even in small doses,
particularly for children. The organization said it is monitoring the case
closely and has reached out to India’s drug regulatory agency for updates.
WHO later confirmed that DEG was detected in at least
three oral syrup medicines consumed by the affected children. The
contaminated medicines have been recalled, and the manufacturers ordered
to halt all production.
This tragedy comes amid growing concern over India’s
pharmaceutical safety, following similar incidents in Gambia, Uzbekistan,
and Cameroon, where contaminated syrups were also linked to child deaths.
The company owner now faces charges of culpable
homicide, drug adulteration, and violations of the Drugs and
Cosmetics Act, according to the Times of India.
Authorities have vowed strict punishment for those
responsible, as families mourn the loss of their children.
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