Kunal, a resident of Jatachhapar village, was administered Coldrif cough syrup on August 24 last year to treat mild fever and cold. Within days, his condition deteriorated sharply. His body began to swell, urine output dropped drastically, and medical tests confirmed acute kidney failure. He was referred to Nagpur on August 31, where he remained under treatment for nearly four months.

Doctors said Kunal underwent eight to ten dialysis sessions during his hospitalisation. Of the eight children admitted at the same hospital with similar symptoms, seven died. Kunal was the sole survivor. He returned home on December 23, but with irreversible damage to his eyes and legs, leaving him bedridden and dependent on his family for basic needs.

“Kunal keeps asking me whether he will be able to play again,” his mother Lakshmi said, fighting back tears. “I don’t have an answer.” Once an active child who played on the streets and dreamed of becoming a soldier like his maternal uncle, Kunal now spends his days listening to other children play outside his window.

The financial impact on the family has been severe. Kunal’s father, Tinku Yaduvanshi, said nearly ₹9 lakh was spent on treatment, forcing the family to sell buffaloes and jewellery. Although the government provided assistance of ₹4.25 lakh, doctors have indicated that further funds will be required for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation. Tinku, who earlier earned ₹25,000 a month working with a microfinance company, lost his job during the prolonged hospital stay. The family now survives on limited income from the grandfather’s small milk business.

The case is part of a larger tragedy in Chhindwara, where 24 children died after consuming the same cough syrup. A case was registered on October 4, following which Dr. Praveen Soni, who prescribed the medicine, was arrested. Pharmacist Saurabh Jain was later named as an accused. Bail hearings for both have been adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled in the Jabalpur High Court on January 5. No bail plea has yet been filed by the manufacturer.

As legal proceedings continue, Kunal’s condition remains a stark reminder that survival does not always mean recovery, and that accountability in public health failures carries consequences far beyond numbers.