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Key Points

A tragic incident in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district has claimed the lives of 11 children after they consumed toxic cough syrup. Police have arrested Dr Praveen Soni who prescribed the Coldrif syrup to most of the affected children. The investigation revealed the syrup contained diethylene glycol at 480 times the permissible limit, causing fatal kidney failure. Authorities have also booked Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer Sresan Pharmaceuticals and formed a special team to investigate the pharmaceutical company's role.

Key Points: Doctor Arrested Tamil Nadu Firm Booked After Toxic Syrup Kills 11 Kids

  • Coldrif cough syrup contained diethylene glycol at 480 times permissible limit
  • Dr Praveen Soni prescribed the toxic syrup to majority of affected children
  • Special Investigation Team formed to probe Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals
  • Police registered case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Drugs Act sections
  • Toxic compound caused fatal renal failure in 11 children from Parasia area
3 min read

Doctor arrested, TN-based firm booked after toxic cough syrup kills 11 kids in MP

Dr Praveen Soni arrested, Sresan Pharmaceuticals booked after Coldrif cough syrup with toxic compound kills 11 children in MP's Chhindwara district.

"It was found 48 per cent against the permissible limit of just 0.1 per cent - Investigation Report"

Chhindwara, Oct 5

In a move following the death of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, police have arrested Dr Praveen Soni and registered a case against him and Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

The action comes in the wake of a disturbing revelation that the children had consumed “Coldrif” cough syrup, which reportedly contained toxic compounds, diethylene glycol beyond permissible limits, leading to fatal renal failure.

“It was found 48 per cent against the permissible limit of just 0.1 per cent,” the investigation has revealed.

Superintendent of Police, Chhindwara, Ajay Pandey, confirmed the arrest during a media briefing, stating that Dr Soni had prescribed the syrup to the majority of the affected children.

“On the basis of the Block Medical Officer’s report, a case was filed under sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,” Pandey said.

The FIR was lodged at Parasia police station late Saturday night, and Dr Soni was apprehended from Rajpal Chowk in the Kotwali police station area during a late-night raid by the SP’s special investigation team.

Pandey further revealed that the Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the role of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures the Coldrif syrup in Tamil Nadu.

The SIT will travel to the company’s production base to investigate the source and composition of the medicine.

“The manufacturing company, Sresan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu, has also been named a prime accused in this case,” he added.

The deaths, concentrated in the Parasia area, had raised alarm over the past few days. Initial reports linked the fatalities to severe cough and cold symptoms.

A detailed inquiry by the Block Medical Officer concluded that the Coldrif syrup contained a harmful compound responsible for kidney failure in children. Based on this report, legal action was initiated, and further investigation into the prescriptions and supply chain is underway.

Pandey said the Block Medical Officer's findings were critical in establishing the link between the syrup and the deaths.

“It was found that the compound in the syrup led to renal failure among children, which ultimately caused their deaths,” he said.

The police are now examining the prescription records and other related details to determine the extent of negligence and accountability.

The tragedy has sparked outrage and demands for stricter oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturing and paediatric prescriptions.

Authorities have assured that the investigation will be pursued thoroughly and all those responsible will be held accountable.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the manufacturer is definitely at fault, doctors also need to be more careful about which medicines they prescribe. Dr. Soni should have known better than to prescribe such a suspiciously cheap syrup to so many children. Both parties are responsible for this tragedy.
A
Arjun K
This is why we need stronger drug regulation in India. Companies cutting corners and putting profits before lives. The government must conduct regular quality checks on all pharmaceutical products, especially those meant for children. Jai Hind 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
As a mother, this news terrifies me. We trust doctors and medicines to heal our children, not harm them. The entire supply chain needs to be investigated - from manufacturer to distributor to chemist. These poor families deserve justice.
V
Vikram M
The SIT investigation must be transparent and thorough. We've seen too many cases where initial arrests are made but the real culprits escape. The company management should be held accountable, not just the doctor. This is mass murder by negligence.
K
Karthik V
Diethylene glycol in cough syrup? This is basic quality control failure. The drug controller office needs to explain how such products enter the market. Compensation must be provided to the affected families immediately.

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