Parasia/Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh — Madhya Pradesh is reeling from a shocking public health tragedy after multiple children under the age of five died due to toxic contamination in cough syrup, highlighting gross negligence by pharmaceutical manufacturers and lapses in regulatory oversight.
The crisis emerged in early September when officials in Parasia, Chhindwara district, noticed a disturbing pattern: young children were dying from unexplained kidney complications.
Within two weeks, the toll rose alarmingly, with at least ten children succumbing, including Shivam (4), Vidhi (3), Adnan (5), Usaid (4), Rishika (5), Shreya (2), Hitansha (4), and Vikas (5).
Each death initially baffled authorities, as water contamination, mosquito-borne diseases, and other common causes were ruled out.
It was only after Vikas (5) died on September 18 that medical authorities were forced to conduct renal biopsies, which revealed acute nephron damage, the functional units of the kidney, implicating a toxic substance.
Investigators grew increasingly suspicious of cough syrup contamination, drawing parallels with prior incidents in Gambia, where similar tragedies had occurred due to industrial chemicals in medications.
One-year-old Sandhya and Yojita (1.5 years) were among the latest victims, succumbing after doses of contaminated syrup worsened their condition. Families recounted harrowing journeys between local clinics and hospitals in Nagpur, highlighting systemic failures in monitoring and healthcare referral systems.
Government Action Against Manufacturers
In a swift response, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered an immediate ban on the sale and distribution of Coldrif Syrup, produced by Sresan Pharmaceutical, following laboratory tests in Tamil Nadu that revealed the syrup contained a staggering 48.6% Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical used in antifreeze and completely unsafe for human consumption.
The Government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai declared the product Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) and adulterated, emphasizing its poisonous nature capable of causing fatal kidney damage.
Investigations revealed that Kataria Pharmaceuticals had purchased 660 bottles of the syrup from Chennai, of which 594 bottles had already been sold in Chhindwara, and 66 were recovered during inspection.
Out of the recovered stock, 16 samples were sent for further testing, while the remaining 50 bottles were seized and frozen, with strict instructions to halt any further distribution.
This incident has sparked outrage, not only in Madhya Pradesh but also in Rajasthan, where at least four children recently died after consuming contaminated cough syrups.
The Rajasthan government has taken strict measures, banning all 19 products supplied by Kaysons Pharma until further notice, including medicines containing Dextromethorphan.
Health Survey and Monitoring
A door-to-door survey is underway in Parasia, covering a population of nearly 2.84 lakh, with 25,000 children under five. Initial results show 4,658 children exhibiting symptoms such as vomiting, cough, and fever. Kidney, liver, and CBC tests conducted so far on 4,411 children have come back normal, with remaining reports expected soon.
Parasia SDM Vikas Kumar Yadav stressed that the tragedy was preventable: “The children were brought to hospitals outside our monitoring system. Had the contaminated medicine been stopped earlier, these deaths could have been avoided.”
This horrifying episode exposes the recklessness of pharmaceutical companies prioritizing profit over life and underscores the urgent need for stricter regulatory checks, monitoring, and accountability. The government has vowed to continue investigations and take strong legal action against manufacturers responsible for these deaths.
The incident serves as a grave reminder that children’s lives are priceless, and any compromise in drug safety is unforgivable.
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