Lagatar24 Desk
Bhopal: The deaths of 16 children in Madhya Pradesh due to toxic cough syrup have revealed alarming gaps in drug testing and regulatory action. While governments scrambled to ban and seize stocks, grieving families were left shattered by the devastating reality that what they believed was medicine turned out to be poison.
First Deaths And Shocking Discovery
The tragedy began in Chhindwara district in late August. The first child died in early September, and within two weeks, six children under five had succumbed to kidney failure. All had common cold and fever, and were prescribed routine medicines, including cough syrup. A kidney biopsy later exposed the presence of diethylene glycol — a toxic chemical linked to pharmaceutical poisonings. Most victims had consumed Coldrif and Nextro-DS syrups. The death toll eventually rose to 16, including four children in Rajasthan.
Parents Recount Horror And Delayed Response
Families shared similar accounts of their children vomiting, stopping urination, and deteriorating rapidly. Doctors resorted to dialysis, but most children could not be saved. Initially, Madhya Pradesh’s health minister denied contamination. However, Tamil Nadu authorities quickly found that Coldrif contained 48.6% diethylene glycol, a poisonous substance. Only on October 4 did Madhya Pradesh act, banning the syrup and acknowledging its role in the deaths.
Toxic Ingredient Behind The Deaths
Diethylene glycol, used in industrial products like brake fluid and inks, can cause severe kidney, liver, and nervous system damage. Even tiny amounts can be fatal for children, leading to acute kidney failure and death. The WHO has linked contaminated syrups to over 300 child deaths worldwide since 2022, including major tragedies in Gambia and Jammu & Kashmir.
Centre Steps In With Urgent Warning
The Union Health Ministry has directed states to ensure “rational” use of cough syrups, especially for children, noting that most coughs do not require medication. Experts from ICMR and the Directorate General of Health Services warned that cough syrups offer minimal benefit and significant risks, urging states to strengthen rapid response systems to prevent similar tragedies.
Families Devastated, Justice Demanded
Most victims came from poor families who sold their livelihoods to save their children. Auto-rickshaw drivers and farmers mortgaged assets, pawned jewellery, and borrowed money — all in vain. Parents now say no compensation can replace their children’s lives. In Parasia block, grief grips the lanes as mothers hold on to their children’s clothes, demanding justice for those “fed poison as medicine.”
