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Deadly Cough Syrup kills 13 Children in India, Doctor Arrested
A government paediatrician in Madhya Pradesh, india, has been arrested following the deaths of at least 13 children linked to a contaminated cough syrup. the tragedy has sparked a nationwide health scare and prompted investigations into pharmaceutical manufacturing practices and drug regulation.
The fatalities occurred after children consumed Coldrif syrup, manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresun Pharmaceuticals. Laboratory analysis revealed the syrup contained a staggering 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG),a highly toxic chemical known to cause kidney failure and death.
Dr. Praveen Soni, who allegedly prescribed the contaminated medicine to the majority of the young victims, was taken into custody late Saturday night. Authorities say Dr. Soni operated a private clinic in Parasia while simultaneously employed as a government doctor. He has been charged under Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a complaint filed by Ankit Sahlam, Block Medical Officer of Parasia Community Health Center.
Police sources indicate that most of the deceased children were treated at Dr. Soni’s clinic between early and mid-September. Initially presenting with mild symptoms like a cold and fever, the children rapidly developed severe complications, including kidney infections and drastically reduced urine output. Subsequent post-mortem investigations and kidney biopsies confirmed DEG poisoning as the cause of death.
The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drug Control declared the Coldrif syrup “Not of Standard Quality” after testing at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai. In response, the Madhya pradesh government imposed a state-wide ban on the sale of Coldrif, and also prohibited another cough syrup, Nextro-DS, as a precautionary measure, pending test results.
Legal proceedings have been initiated against Sresun Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government has suspended the licence of the pharmaceutical company.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has directed state governments to increase surveillance of cough syrup manufacturers and ensure strict adherence to quality control standards. The Central Drugs Standard control Organisation (CDSCO) has also launched a nationwide inspection of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy from last year when dozens of children died in Gambia after consuming cough syrup contaminated with DEG, also manufactured in India. The recurring nature of these events has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of India’s drug regulatory system and the need for stricter oversight of pharmaceutical companies.
Simultaneously occurring, in Rajasthan, investigations continue into recent child deaths. ansh Sharma (4), Sikar, died on September 29, 2025, with no evidence of dextromethorphan being prescribed. “Samrat, Bharatpur, died on September 22, 2025, of acute respiratory distress, and there was no record of syrup consumption. Tirthraj, Bharatpur, died on september 27 2025, of acute encephalitis with no record of syrup use. These cases are still under investigation, but so far there is no confirmation that government doctors prescribed the drug,” he stated.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued fresh advisories warning against administering dextromethorphan to children under two years of age and recommending its prescription only for those over five. Rajasthan has instructed all doctors to adhere strictly to these guidelines.
Minister Khinvsar provided updates on children who fell ill after suspected syrup use, noting that Gagan, son of Satishchand, Bharatpur, recovered after consuming his father’s medication, while Kittu (3) and Tinku, sons of Pratap singh, Sikar, also recovered after consuming dextromethorphan. He further stated: “Today, reports from the Drug Testing Lab for six samples of Kaysan Pharma’s dextromethorphan batches have been received. All were found to be of standard quality. So far, 1.33 lakh doses from these batches have been distributed, and no adverse complaints have been reported elsewhere.”
The minister revealed that since 2012,10,119 samples from Kaysan Pharma had been tested,with 42 failing quality checks. Considerably,39 of these failures occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic,with three more recent failures prompting the suspension of all 19 of the company’s medicines as a precautionary measure.
Minister Khinvsar reassured the public that the Chief Minister’s Free Medicine Scheme maintains a multi-level
