Three states ban cough syrup allegedly linked to deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

Three states have banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif cough syrup after at least eight children died after consuming it in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, India Today reported.

The cough syrup was first banned in Tamil Nadu, with Madhya Pradesh and Kerala following suit.

At least eight children, aged between one and seven, died in the past month in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The authorities have suspected cough syrup poisoning as the common cause.

After the deaths, the Madhya Pradesh government had asked authorities in Tamil Nadu to look into the safety of the cough syrup. On October 2, a report by the Tamil Nadu director of drug control found that samples of Coldrif cough syrup manufactured at a plant of Sresan Pharmaceuticals in the state’s Kancheepuram district were found to be “NSQ”, or non-standard or defective.

The report said that the samples contained 48.6% diethylene glycol, which can cause acute kidney and liver failure.

The Tamil Nadu government banned the sale of cough syrup from October 1 following reports about the deaths of children allegedly linked to it, India Today reported.

On Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh government also banned the sale and distribution of the Coldrif cough syrup. Officials have been directed to collect additional samples of the syrup from the state and send...

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