A wave of concern has swept across the country due to the Coldrif cough syrup. At least 11 children have died after consuming this syrup in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while some reports put the number as high as 12. The governments of Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have imposed a complete ban on the drug, while the Union Health Ministry has conducted tests on samples, revealing an excessive amount of the toxic substance diethylene glycol (DEG).
This syrup is manufactured by Shreeson Pharma Private Limited, located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. According to the report of the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Department, the sample of batch number SR-13 contained 48.6 percent DEG, which can cause kidney failure and death. Most deaths were recorded in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, where children were given this syrup as cough medicine. The Union Health Ministry has initiated inspections of 19 drug units across six states.
The Chhattisgarh Health Department has clarified that no medicine from Shreeson Pharma is supplied in the state. Nevertheless, to prevent confusion and rumors, a complete ban on Coldrif syrup will also be imposed here. The department is keeping a close watch on the markets and has instructed drug vendors to immediately stop selling all products of the company.
Local drug trader Ashwani Vig confirmed that there is no supply chain or warehouse of Coldrif in Chhattisgarh. Despite this, after the incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the images of the syrup went viral on social media, causing panic in the state. People have started checking before buying the medicine. The Health Department has appealed to parents not to give any cough syrup to children without medical advice and to immediately report any suspicious drugs.