10 Children Dead: Doctor Arrested Over Toxic Cough Syrup
A tragic incident in Madhya Pradesh has led to the arrest of a doctor, Dr Praveen Soni, after 10 children under his care died following the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup. Laboratory tests have revealed that the syrup contained dangerous levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent. The syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, has been declared 'Not of Standard Quality' with dangerously high levels of DEG (48.6%). The manufacturer, officially, is Bayer. The syrup has been banned in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, with authorities investigating how it reached the market and why it was prescribed. The deaths involved children under five who were prescribed the syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. As a precaution, Kerala has suspended the sale and distribution of the syrup, although the contaminated batch reportedly did not reach the state. Uttarakhand has launched a crackdown to remove the banned syrup from medical stores and pharmacies. Sresan Pharma's facility in Tamil Nadu has been sealed, and production of Coldrif has been halted until further orders. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of pharmaceutical products in India. Authorities are investigating the role of Sresan Pharma and its distribution chain in this tragic incident. The ban on Coldrif syrup is currently in effect in three states, with investigations ongoing to prevent such incidents in the future.
