At least eleven children have died in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan over the past few weeks after reportedly consuming contaminated cough syrup, triggering a full-scale investigation by both state and central authorities. Despite ongoing probes, officials are yet to determine the exact cause of death, and several questions remain unanswered.
The Union Health Ministry said that 19 samples of cough syrups used by the affected children were sent for testing at government laboratories. Of the ten reports received so far, nine samples were found to meet safety standards, while one sample failed the quality test.
The failed sample was identified as a cough syrup branded Coldrif, manufactured by Chennai-based Sresan Pharma. Tests conducted at a Tamil Nadu drug laboratory detected traces of diethylene glycol (DEG) in the syrup. The drug contained three active ingredients chlorpheniramine maleate, paracetamol, and phenylephrine but the presence of DEG rendered it toxic.
Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are industrial solvents that are not approved for human consumption. Even in small quantities, they can cause severe kidney and liver damage, often proving fatal. Despite repeated warnings, such contaminants have been linked to multiple mass poisoning incidents worldwide, including in India.
In 2023, health authorities in The Gambia linked cough syrups made by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals to the deaths of 69 children. The same year, Uzbekistan blamed Noida-based Marion Biotech for 18 child deaths allegedly caused by tainted syrups. In 2024, the World Health Organisation flagged three batches of Cold Out syrup made by Tamil Nadu-based Fourrts Laboratories for containing excessive levels of DEG and ethylene glycol.
Experts say these toxic chemicals often enter paediatric syrups when manufacturers substitute the safe solvent propylene glycol with cheaper industrial-grade alternatives. The recurring pattern of contamination, they warn, points to serious lapses in quality control and enforcement within India’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
