Cough syrup tragedy: Union Health Secretary chairs meeting amid deaths in MP; several states ban Coldrif syrup

Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 5 (ANI): Following multiple deaths reported at Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrup, several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Telangana, Kerala, have issued advisories and banned the Coldrif cough syrup.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has said that they will also ban the cough syrup if they found it contaminated after getting reports.
"We are getting the reports. We will also ban the cough syrup if we find it contaminated," CM Sai said.
Madhya Pradesh government has imposed an immediate ban on the sale of Coldrif and Nextro DS syrups along with along with the ban on the sale of other products manufactured by the same company. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav, announced the ban in a post on X.

On the directions of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, strict action has been initiated against the sale of banned cough syrups across Uttarakhand. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched statewide raids on medical stores to ensure compliance.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra issued an urgent public alert instructing the immediate cessation of sale, distribution, and use of Coldrif Syrup, following reports of toxic adulteration linked to the deaths in Madhya Pradesh.
In view of recent concerns relating to the quality and administration of cough syrups, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare convened a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of the Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava with all States and Union Territories to review compliance with drug quality norms and promote the rational use of cough syrups, especially in paediatric populations.
The matter had been earlier reviewed by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, who had directed that the matter may be discussed with States/UTs to ensure necessary actions, according to an official release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The discussions centred on three key agenda points: compliance with Schedule M and other GSR provisions relating to quality standards in drug manufacturing units; rational use of cough syrups in children, including the need to avoid irrational combinations and inappropriate formulations; and strengthening regulation of retail pharmacies to prevent sale and misuse of such formulations.
At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, said an official on Sunday.
Apart from these 14 deaths, eight children have been admitted to Chhindwara's Nagpur hospital.
Speaking to ANI, Additional District Magistrate of Chhindwara, Dhirendra Singh, stated that a drug controller team has been formed and is conducting raids at various locations in Chhindwara and nearby districts to seize the banned cough syrup.
He added that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed and is heading to Tamil Nadu for investigation in the case.
"14 deaths have been reported to us. Compensation has been approved for it, and the amount has reached their account. 8 children of Chhindwara are admitted to a hospital. A team has been constituted at the administration level to monitor them. Doctors and the Executive Magistrate are part of that team. The Drug Controller has formed a team. Raids are being conducted for the search for banned cough syrup in the Chhindwara and nearby districts, and it is being seized. SIT has also been formed, and it is heading to Tamil Nadu for investigation," ADM Dhirendra Singh said.
The Madhya Pradesh police have registered a case against Dr Pradeep Soni, the doctor who prescribed the now-banned Coldrif cough syrup. The manufacturing company of the syrup, Sresan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu, had also been booked as a prime accused in the case, according to the officials.
As per the instructions of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, paediatrician Dr Pradeep Soni, posted in Parasia, Chhindwara district, has been suspended with immediate effect following reports of infant deaths.
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla on Sunday said that 48.6 per cent diethylene glycol was found in the now-banned Coldrif syrup in the lab test reports.
He further said that as soon as the report came, the syrup was banned throughout the state, and the largest stock in Jabalpur was also sealed.
Speaking to ANI, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "The test reports for the three medicines that came in earlier did not find any toxic substances of this kind...The report on the syrup from the Tamil Nadu factory came late at night and the cause of deaths was revealed: 48.6 per cent diethylene glycol, a highly banned chemical. Following this, the syrup was immediately banned throughout Madhya Pradesh. The largest stockist of this syrup in Jabalpur was sealed, and it was ordered that no medicine would be sold until the report came from Tamil Nadu. As soon as the report came, it was banned throughout Madhya Pradesh..." (ANI)