Cough syrup deaths in Madhya Pradesh trigger nationwide alert as Uttar Pradesh enforces ban

A scandal involving contaminated cough syrup has deepened in India, as authorities in Madhya Pradesh arrested a doctor in connection with the deaths of 14 children allegedly after they consumed a widely used syrup.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh has banned the same brand of cough syrup as a precautionary measure to stem further casualties.

In Chhindwara district, Dr Praveen Soni, who had reportedly prescribed the cough syrup to many of the affected children, was taken into custody amid claims of negligence and culpable homicide.

An FIR has also been filed against the manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu, under charges including violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Lab analysis pointed to alarming contamination: samples of the syrup, Coldrif, were found to contain 48.6 percent by volume of diethylene glycol (DEG) — a toxic industrial chemical.

After these findings, the Madhya Pradesh government banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif statewide.

In parallel, the Uttar Pradesh government announced a ban on the same cough syrup brand to prevent any similar tragedies in its jurisdiction. The decision reflects heightened caution following the MP crisis, even before direct cases were confirmed in UP.

Families impacted in Chhindwara have spoken of their heartbreak. Many children fell ill following consumption of the syrup, developing kidney failure, reduced urine output, vomiting and acute distress.

One father said he had to transport his child multiple times to Nagpur, spending large sums on dialysis and care in private hospitals because local health facilities lacked advanced treatment options.

The crisis has brought attention not only to a singular contamination scandal but to larger systemic issues: regulation, oversight, and accountability in pharmaceutical manufacturing and prescribing behavior.

The incident echoes past tragedies — for example, the Gambia cough syrup scandal where contaminated pediatric syrups from India caused dozens of deaths.

Investigations are ongoing. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed in MP, and authorities plan to exhume bodies for further forensic examination.

In the short term, several states are tightening regulations, issuing directives to pharmacies, and conducting tests on stocked syrups.