In the wake of the tragic deaths of 19 children from a toxic cough syrup in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, a drug inspection team has launched intensive checks of medical stores in Rajgarh district. As a precaution, authorities in Rajgarh have sent all cold and cough syrups for testing, collecting samples from multiple pharmacies.

All 19 deaths have been linked to Coldrif cough syrup, which has tested positive for Diethylene Glycol (DEG), an industrial toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure.

Around 600 cough syrup bottles have been found in Chhindwara, of which 443 bottles have already been recovered.

Also in connection, the Indore district administration has taken strict action against the state’s largest drug market, seizing over 50 samples from three pharmacies.

Meanwhile, authorities in Rajasthan, where medicines that have failed quality checks are still in circulation, will now conduct testing of all cough syrup samples in government laboratories, checking for DEG and dextramethorphan hydrobromide levels.

Samples will be collected from all 65 pharmaceutical companies in Rajasthan, while syrups from companies outside the state will be obtained from stockists.

Besides Madhya Pradesh, several other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Punjab, have banned the Coldrif cough syrup.

Here are the latest developments:

• In Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh, investigators have initiated action after finding many medical stores registered in someone else’s name, while untrained individuals are selling or prescribing prescriptions.

• Probe also revealed that some cold syrups that should not be given to children under four years of age were still being sold. The drug inspector stated that a list of such syrups has been compiled, and store operators have been instructed to return them to the company.

• In Indore, cough syrups were found in several pharmacies without bills and batch numbers. Officials have prepared to take samples of the suspected drugs and send them for lab testing.

• Chhattisgarh is also on alert. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that no cough syrup is being given to children under two years of age.

• Gujarat FDA has inspected two pharma firms and found two DEG-laced cough syrups, Respifresh TR & Relife. Retailers and distributors have been told to prohibit their sales immediately.

• Show-cause notice served to Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup. India Today probe exposes shocking lapses and unhygienic conditions at the manufacturing plant in Kancheepuram.

• The Kerala government has banned the distribution of medicines manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Decision follows steps by the Tamil Nadu Drugs Controller to cancel the company’s licence.

• Congress has demanded a judicial probe into the matter, strict action against those responsible and compensation for the families of the victims.

• Indian Medical Association chief Dilip Bhanushal defended Soni and blamed pharma company and government lapses for systemic failures in drug regulation.

– Ends

Published By:

Karishma Saurabh Kalita

Published On:

Oct 8, 2025

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