Latest Victim Loses Month-Long Battle
Ambika Vishwakarma, a resident of Kakai Bilwa village in Chaurai tehsil, fell seriously ill in early September after consuming the contaminated Coldrif cough syrup. When local treatment failed to improve her deteriorating condition, her desperate family rushed her to Nagpur on September 14, where doctors confirmed she was suffering from kidney failure. After nearly a month of intensive medical treatment, the toddler succumbed to the toxic effects on Wednesday morning.
Devastating Death Count Rises Across Districts
With Ambika's death, the total number of children who have died from the toxic syrup in Madhya Pradesh has reached 26, with Chhindwara district bearing the heaviest burden. Earlier, one-year-old Garvik Pawar from Moradongri, Parasia, also died while receiving treatment at Nagpur Medical College, adding to the mounting casualties. The deaths span across multiple districts, with 20 fatalities recorded in Chhindwara alone, plus additional deaths in Betul and Pandhurna districts.
Critical Cases Continue Treatment
Currently, two more children from the affected region remain in critical condition at Nagpur hospitals, desperately fighting between life and death. The ongoing medical emergency has created widespread panic throughout the district as families grapple with the devastating consequences of what should have been routine treatment for common cold and cough symptoms.
Toxic Chemical Contamination Confirmed
Laboratory tests revealed that the Coldrif cough syrup manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals contained a shocking 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG), a highly toxic industrial chemical used in antifreeze and brake fluids. This contamination level was nearly 500 times higher than the permissible limit of 0.1%, causing acute kidney failure and death in children who consumed the syrup.
Government Response and Arrests
The Madhya Pradesh government has taken swift action following the tragedy, announcing Rs 4 lakh compensation for each affected family and covering all treatment costs for surviving children. Police arrested Dr. Praveen Soni, the government pediatrician who prescribed the contaminated syrup, along with G. Ranganathan, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The state has also suspended drug inspectors and banned the sale of all medicines manufactured by the company.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Measures
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the tragedy thoroughly, with authorities conducting raids to seize remaining stocks of the banned medicine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert about the three contaminated Indian cough syrups, urging countries worldwide to report any detection of these products. The case has prompted renewed calls for stricter drug regulation and quality control measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced pharmaceutical safety protocols and rigorous quality assurance measures to protect vulnerable children from contaminated medications that turn life-saving treatments into deadly poisons.
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