Dozens of children in India have d!ed after allegedly consuming contaminated cough syrup, according to multiple local news reports
Over the past month, the children, all under the age of 5, d!ed in the central state of Madhya Pradesh after consuming cough medicine linked to Tamil Nadu-based company Sresan Pharmaceuticals, according to Reuters.
The news agency stated that the company’s Coldrif syrup contained toxic diethylene glycol (DEG) in quantities nearly 500 times the permissible limit.
Per the World Health Organization (WHO), DEG is a “toxic” substance “used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, especially for children.”
Following the de.aths, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, S. Ranganathan, has since been arrested.
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister, Rajendra Shukla, told ANI on Thursday, Oct. 9, “The state government is very active in taking action in this matter. As soon as we came to know about the children’s de.ath due to Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceutical company, an immediate case was registered and an SIT [Special Investigation Team] was constituted.”
“Yesterday, the owner of the Coldrif cough syrup manufacturing company was arrested, and he will be brought here on transit remand,” Shukla added to the outlet.
The syrup has now been banned in several parts of India after a test confirmed the presence of the chemical on Thursday, Oct. 2, Reuters reported.
Following the owner’s arrest, the pharmaceutical company has been permanently shut down, according to India Today.
Chhindwara police superintendent, Ajay Pandey, told ANI of the owner’s arrest, “The SIT that left from Chhindwara has arrested Sresan Pharma owner Ranganathan. He was rounded up late at night and then arrested. As part of the procedure, his medical examination will be done and other proceedings will be undertaken in Chennai. Then after, he will be brought to Chhindwara.”
Seventeen of the victims were from the Chhindwara district, two of the children were from the Betul district, and one was from the Pandhurna district, ANI noted.
Health Minister Shukla added to the news agency, “20 children have lost their lives in the unfortunate incident from Chhindwara, Betul and Pandhurna districts. The state government is quite strict.”
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Tragic
This is so sad