Bhopal/Chhindwara, Oct 9 – The death toll from the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy in Chhindwara has jumped to 22, after a five‑year‑old boy named Mayank Suryavanshi died.
Mayank lived in Khajri Antu village, was taken to a hospital in Nagpur when he was critically ill, and died late Wednesday night. Doctors say he suffered kidney failure that was most likely caused by the toxic Coldrif syrup.
Coldrif is made by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu. Tests found that the syrup contains diethylene glycol (DEG), a dangerous industrial solvent that can damage kidneys and kill children. The drug also carries other banned chemicals like paracetamol, chlorpheniramine and phenylephrine, with no warning label.
The Madhya Pradesh police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the deaths. They have already jailed Sresan’s owner, Ranganathan Govindrajan, in Chennai. The company’s factory in Kanchipuram has been sealed so investigators can examine the production line. Police are also trying to bring Govindrajan to Chhindwara for further questioning.
The state government reacted quickly. Two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration were suspended. The drug controller was moved to a new post. The deputy chief minister fired Naresh Gonnade, the chief medical officer in Chhindwara. Dr. Praveen Soni, a local doctor, was arrested for negligence. The Indian Medical Association protested the arrest and threatened an indefinite strike in the district.
Coldrif was commonly prescribed to children with colds and coughs. A 2023 central directive banned such formulations for kids under four, but enforcement was weak. Many companies did not change labels, and state officials failed to run awareness campaigns.
Hospitals in Nagpur still treat several children who received Coldrif. Five of them are in critical condition. The death toll may climb if more kids develop severe symptoms. The Chhindwara incident has raised fresh concerns about drug safety, regulatory oversight and accountability in India’s pharmaceutical industry.
Source: ianslive
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