Chhindwara cough syrup tragedy: Madhya Pradesh CM orders suspension of 3 officials

Chhindwara cough syrup tragedy

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Yadav on Monday ordered suspension of two drug inspectors, the Deputy Director of Food and Drug Administration, and transfer of a drug controller, according to an official release.

During a high-level meeting at the CM residence in Bhopal regarding the Chhindwara incident, the CM emphasised that strict action would be taken against all guilty parties in the case.

"The state government is vigilant and sensitive, and no negligence will be tolerated in matters concerning human life. Accordingly, Drug Inspector of Chhindwara Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector of Jabalpur Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director, Food & Drug Administration Shobhit Koshta have been suspended, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya has been transferred," said the CM as stated in the release.

The Madhya Pradesh government has banned the sale of Coldrif cough syrup, with officials stating the drug samples have been found to contain a highly toxic substance.

CM directs seizure of existing Coldrif syrup stock, door-to-door recovery campaign

The CM also directed that along with banning the sale of Coldrif syrup, the existing stock in shops should be seized. A thorough campaign should be conducted to recover the drug from the households of families who have consumed it in Chhindwara and nearby districts.

ASHA workers, along with all government officials and staff, should assist in this operation. The effectiveness of other drugs sold in the area recently should also be assessed. A campaign will be launched to check whether warnings and precautions on drugs are properly indicated. Action will be taken against those who fail to comply. Combination drugs should not be given to children under four years of age; strict action will be taken against doctors violating this guideline, the CM said.

He further stated that, with the support of organisations, including the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and various chemist associations, necessary precautions and awareness measures should be implemented. Steps must be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur. Instructions were also given to inform the Tamil Nadu government regarding action against the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup.

At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara so far, while eight children have been admitted to a hospital.

SIT to probe deaths; doctor held, cough syrup maker booked

Dr Praveen Soni from Chhindwara was arrested on Sunday for alleged negligence in connection with the child deaths, while a case has been registered against the Coldrif cough syrup manufacturing company. The body of the last victim was exhumed on Sunday for a post-mortem.

The Madhya Pradesh government is now investigating how a large batch of contaminated cough syrup ended up in Chhindwara district’s Parasia. Over 600 bottles were reportedly dispatched from Jabalpur to Chhindwara, with a significant portion sent onward to Parasia. Accordign to a report by The Indian Express, local authorities have traced and seized approximately 400 cough syrups, of which 200 remain to be traced, with fears that they must already be in circulation.