Cough Syrup Tragedy in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh: 14 Children Die After Consuming Coldrif Contaminated With Toxic Chemical
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| Coldrif Contaminated With Toxic Chemical |
In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, a tragedy has shaken families and shocked the entire nation. Children in Chhindwara district died after consuming a cough syrup called Coldrif. The syrup, instead of bringing relief, turned into poison. Tests have shown that the medicine contained a dangerous chemical called diethylene glycol (DEG).
In Total 14 Children died till - 11 died in Madhya Pradesh, 3 died in Rajasthan.
The incident has forced the government to ban the cough syrup and other medicines from the same manufacturer. Several states across India have also started banning the syrup and conducting checks on other drugs. This tragedy has raised serious questions about medicine safety, quality control, and the responsibility of pharmaceutical companies.
This report presents a detailed account of what happened, how the tragedy unfolded, what actions are being taken, and why it matters for the future of child health and drug safety in India.
The first reports came from villages in Parasia tehsil of Chhindwara district in late August 2025. Parents took their children to local clinics because of mild fever and cough. Doctors prescribed cough syrup along with common medicines.
Children were given Coldrif syrup, a product made by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Tamil Nadu. Instead of recovery, the children began to suffer. Their urine output reduced. Their bodies swelled. Soon, they showed signs of acute kidney failure.
Within weeks, the tragedy became clear. 11 children's died in Madhya Pradesh. All were under five years of age. At least five more children were admitted to Government Medical College & Hospital in Nagpur, fighting for their lives and 3 children's died in Rajasthan.
The Shocking Test Report
The Madhya Pradesh government quickly sent syrup samples for testing. The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department examined the batch.
The report was shocking. It confirmed that Coldrif cough syrup contained 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG).
DEG is not a medicine. It is an industrial chemical. It is used in brake fluids, coolants, and paints. When swallowed, it damages the kidneys and nervous system. In children, even a small dose can cause death.
This test proved that the cough syrup consumed by the children was contaminated and directly responsible for their deaths.
Government Ban in Madhya Pradesh
After receiving the test report, the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) acted immediately.
- The sale of Coldrif cough syrup was banned across the state.
- Stocks were seized from pharmacies and distributors.
- The ban was extended to all medicines manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals.
- Drug inspectors were ordered to test other batches of the syrup.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed deep sorrow. He said the deaths were “extremely painful.” The state announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for each affected family. The government also promised to cover medical treatment costs for children still undergoing care.
Alarm in Other States
The tragedy in Madhya Pradesh soon spread alarm across the country.
In Rajasthan, similar child deaths linked to contaminated syrups were reported. Another company, Kayson Pharma, was banned.
In Kerala, Health Minister Veena George announced a complete ban on Coldrif. Though no stock of the contaminated batch had been sold in the state, the government decided to act with caution. All distributors and pharmacies were directed to stop selling Coldrif. Samples of other cough syrups were also collected for testing.
Other states have also launched inspections to ensure contaminated syrups are not being sold.
National-Level Action
At the national level, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) launched inspections in six states:
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
- Gujarat
- Uttarakhand
- Himachal Pradesh
Teams of inspectors visited drug manufacturing units. They collected samples of cough syrups, antibiotics, and fever medicines. The aim was to find out if other medicines were contaminated.
The Union Health Ministry formed a special investigation team with experts from:
- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- AIIMS Nagpur
- National Institute of Virology (NIV)
- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)
- CDSCO
The team is studying the samples, medical records, and the chain of supply.
Directive from DCGI
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has also issued strict new rules:
- Medical Doctors must not prescribe cough syrup to children under two years of age.
- Pharmacies must not sell cough syrup for infants, even with a prescription.
- For children above five, cough syrup should be prescribed only after strict clinical evaluation and under medical supervision.
History of Cough Syrup Deaths
This tragedy is not new in India. There have been several such incidents in the past:
- 1998, Gurgaon (Haryana): Around 30 children died due to DEG contamination in cough syrup.
- 2020, Jammu: At least 12 children died after taking contaminated cold syrup.
- 2022, The Gambia (Africa): More than 60 children died after taking cough syrup made by an Indian company. The WHO issued a global alert.
Each time, the cause was the same: diethylene glycol poisoning. Each time, promises of stricter rules were made. But incidents continued.
Why Does This Keep Happening?
Experts explain that such contamination usually happens because of cost-cutting.
Medicines like cough syrups need safe solvents such as glycerin or propylene glycol. But these are more expensive. Some companies substitute them with diethylene glycol, which is cheaper but poisonous.
If manufacturers do not test raw materials carefully, contamination can enter the medicine. The deaths in Madhya Pradesh suggest that Coldrif was made either with contaminated raw materials or without proper safety checks.
International Impact
India is known as the “pharmacy of the world.” It exports medicines to over 150 countries. But repeated tragedies involving cough syrups damage India’s reputation.
After the Gambia case in 2022, several African nations increased checks on Indian medicines. Now, with the Chhindwara tragedy, India is again under global scrutiny.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has already warned against DEG contamination. Global trust in Indian medicines will depend on how strongly India handles this crisis.
The tragedy in Madhya Pradesh shows the urgent need for reform:
1. Every batch of cough syrup must be tested for DEG before release.
2. Transparency in manufacturing must be enforced. Companies should declare their raw material sources.
3. Heavy punishments must be given to those who violate safety standards.
4. Parents must be cautious about giving cough syrups to infants unless absolutely necessary.
More:
1. No Cough Syrup Under 2 Years Children Health Ministry Issues Advisory