Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Tuesday that 20 children have died so far in the state after consuming cough syrup, and five others are undergoing treatment for kidney failure. Most of the deceased children, 17, are from Chhindwara district, while two are from Betul and one from Pandhurna.
Shukla, who visited hospitals in Nagpur, said that some older children have recovered, but two died on Tuesday and one on Monday night. Prior to this, 17 children had died.
The minister further said that of the children still undergoing treatment, two are admitted to the Government Medical College in Nagpur, two to AIIMS, and one to a private hospital. “Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s government has made all arrangements so that they do not face any problems or financial burden during their treatment,” he was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
The children had fever and colds before taking the ‘Coldrif’ syrup. After consuming it, they experienced severe vomiting and difficulty urinating.
The first death linked to this syrup occurred on September 2. Investigations revealed that the syrup was manufactured by Srisan Pharmaceuticals in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Subsequent investigations by drug control authorities in both Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh found that the syrup contained more than 45% diethylene glycol, a harmful chemical that can cause serious health problems.
The Madhya Pradesh police have taken strict action in this case. Praveen Soni, a government pediatrician from Parasia, Chhindwara, was arrested for prescribing the syrup to several children who later died. Authorities also filed a case against the manufacturer and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state government would bear the cost of treatment for the children admitted in Nagpur. To assist the affected families, the Chhindwara Collector has formed three dedicated teams to help them during treatment.
Protests against the arrest of the pediatrician
Following the pediatrician’s arrest, several doctors protested in Parasia and began an indefinite strike. The district unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanded Dr. Soni’s immediate release.
Dr. Ankur Batra, general surgeon and secretary of the IMA Parasia, said the charges against Dr. Soni were unjustified.
The Hindu quoted Dr. Batra as saying, “He is not a criminal, but a very senior doctor. He should not be treated like this. Action should be taken against the drug manufacturers and those who approved it for use. He simply prescribed it.”
The doctor said that members of the dental association, pharmaceutical association, and other local bodies also joined the protest. A silent rally will be held on Wednesday.