Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal

Bhopal, Oct 4: Tragedy has struck Madhya Pradesh as nine children have died, with families alleging that contaminated cough syrups ‘Coldrif’ and ‘Nextros DS’ are to blame. The syrups, prescribed for fever and cough, reportedly led to severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, and sudden kidney failure — signs typical of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) poisoning, the same toxic exposure that killed dozens of children in Gambia in 2022.

While Tamil Nadu acted within 24 hours — testing, confirming, and banning the tainted batch — Madhya Pradesh is still awaiting reports.

On October 1, Tamil Nadu’s Drugs Control Department received an alert about Coldrif Syrup Batch SR-13, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Kanchipuram. Despite the holiday, officials rushed to the plant, conducted a detailed inspection, and detected over 360 violations of drug manufacturing rules. Samples were immediately sent for testing.

Within 24 hours, the lab report confirmed that the batch contained 48.6% Diethylene Glycol, a deadly industrial solvent. Tamil Nadu swiftly issued a statewide alert, froze all stocks, warned the public, and suspended the manufacturer’s licence.

Deputy Director of Drugs Control S. Gurubharathi called it a “first-of-its-kind rapid response,” completing inspection, testing, and shutdown orders in record time — even during holidays.

In contrast, Madhya Pradesh officials continue to deny any link. Health Minister Rajendra Shukla claimed no harmful substance had been detected so far, while SDM Shubham Yadav attributed the deaths to possible kidney infections from “dirty water or mosquitoes.”

However, senior health officials quietly admitted that renal biopsies confirmed kidney failure caused by toxic substances, likely due to the contaminated syrups.

The victims — Shivam, Vidhi, Adnan, Usaid, Rishika, Hetansh, Vikas, Chanchalesh, and Sandhya — have left behind grieving families demanding accountability. Many are questioning why, if Tamil Nadu could act overnight, Madhya Pradesh remains trapped in bureaucratic denial.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan has reported three child deaths possibly linked to the same syrup. But Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar dismissed government responsibility, saying the medicine “was bought by parents” and “the department has no role.”

As investigations continue, the shadow of delay and denial looms large over states where lives have already been lost.