Toxic cough syrup tragedy: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana issue bans after 14 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and others issue bans and advisories on Coldrif cough syrup as tests confirm toxic solvent; MP arrests doctor, suspends officials.

A toxic cough syrup tragedy in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district that claimed the lives of 14 children has prompted a swift response from multiple states. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and others have issued bans, advisories, and recalls of Coldrif cough syrup, after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a highly toxic industrial solvent, diethylene glycol (DEG).

Maharashtra: FDA orders statewide ban and recall

According to PTI report, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday imposed a statewide ban on Coldrif syrup and ordered the immediate recall of its stock from pharmacies, hospitals, and distributors.
Officials said the contaminated batch, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, based in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, contained a DEG concentration of nearly 48 percent, far above permissible limits.

Retailers and wholesalers have been directed to report any remaining inventory and stop all sales immediately.

Karnataka and Telangana follow with alerts

PTI also reported that the Karnataka health department has also banned the sale and use of Coldrif, calling the move “a precautionary public health step” after the Chhindwara incident.

In Telangana, health authorities have issued advisories to all district medical officers to sensitise healthcare facilities and alert citizens. Drug control teams have been told to recall Coldrif samples statewide.

Other states join in

States such as Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have issued similar alerts and begun testing stocks of cough syrups and paediatric formulations from Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

At the national level, the Union Health Ministry has convened an emergency meeting with state drug controllers and health secretaries, directing a review of cough syrup manufacturing units and stricter adherence to Schedule M norms. Officials said the episode highlights the need for rational prescribing and tighter post-market surveillance.

Madhya Pradesh: 14 children dead, officials suspended, doctor arrested

In Madhya Pradesh, where the tragedy originated, the government on Monday suspended two drug inspectors, Gaurav Sharma (Chhindwara) and Sharad Kumar Jain (Jabalpur), and Deputy Director Shobhit Costa of the state’s Food and Drug Administration.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also transferred the state’s Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya, and said “strict action will be taken against those responsible.”

The deaths, which occurred across Parasia, Chhindwara city and Chaurai tehsil, were linked to consumption of Coldrif syrup prescribed for cough and cold symptoms.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the chain of negligence, from manufacture and distribution to local prescription.

A local doctor, Dr Praveen Soni, has been arrested on charges of criminal negligence, and a case filed against Sresan Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured the drug.

The state government has banned the sale of Coldrif across Madhya Pradesh and announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for each child who died.

Toxicology findings: DEG confirmed in syrup samples

Preliminary tests conducted by government drug laboratories found diethylene glycol (DEG) in Coldrif samples. DEG, an industrial chemical used in brake fluid and antifreeze, is lethal even in small concentrations and has been linked to multiple mass poisoning cases globally, including in The Gambia (2022) and Uzbekistan (2023).

Officials confirmed that the DEG levels in the Coldrif batch seized from Chhindwara were many times above permissible pharmacopeial limits, confirming contamination.

On the ground: families struggle, hospitals under-equipped

In Parasia, families said that children initially showed mild cold symptoms before developing vomiting, kidney failure and reduced urine output.

According to a report by The Indian Express, several families reported having to move their children to Nagpur, nearly 130 km away, because Chhindwara lacks dialysis facilities and critical care infrastructure.

Eight children remain under treatment, four at a government hospital, one at AIIMS Nagpur, and three in private facilities.

National-level crackdown and wider scrutiny

Following the incident, central drug regulators have ordered inspection drives at pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs across Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat. Samples of other paediatric syrups, antibiotics and antipyretics are being tested for contamination.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has sought detailed batch records, raw material sourcing data, and internal test results from Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

The Union Health Ministry has urged states to enhance pharmacovigilance, ensure routine random sampling, and verify compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).