In a devastating turn of events at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh have lost their lives after consuming Coldrif, a widely available cough syrup. The cough syrup was found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical known to cause acute kidney failures. The deaths primarily in Chhindwara district have raised serious concerns about drug safety and regulation in India. The drug based in Tamil Nadu under Sresan Pharmaceuticals has come under intense scrutiny. Investigation revealed that the company has violated multiple pharmaceutical quality standards including improper procurement and storage of raw materials, lack of quality control and non-compliance with manufacturing practices. Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla on Tuesday (October 7, 2025) said 20 children have died so far after drinking a contaminated cough syrup, while five are under treatment for kidney failure. Of the 20 children, 17 are from Chhindwara district, two from Betul and one from Pandhurna.
In response to the tragedy, the Madhya Pradesh government has taken swift action. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been sent to investigate Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Local authorities have suspended drug licenses in medical stores of Chhindwara district. A manslaughter probe has also been launched against the manufacturer. It is not the first time such a tragedy has happened. Over the past decade, India has witnessed several incidents involving contaminated medicines and unsafe pharmaceutical practices that has led to illness and death of people primarily children. Uttar Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir have faced similar issues in past. Reportedly Diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol toxins were found in Indian-made cough syrups that have killed at least 141 children in Gambia, Uzbekistan and Cameroon since 2022, and another 12 children in India in 2019, damaging the image of the world’s third-biggest drug-manufacturing country by volume. These recurring incidents highlight persistent gap in enforcement and straight monitoring and inspection in pharmaceutical sector.