Kirti Azad takes a dig at Shah, PM Modi
In a sharp attack on Union home minister Amit Shah, the sitting MP from Burdwan-Durgapur and former cricketer Kirti Jha Azad compared him to a “frog in the monsoon”.
The test report of the Coldrif cough syrup, suspected to have caused kidney failure and the subsequent deaths of at least 11 children in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, has revealed that it contains 48.6% diethylene glycol, a highly toxic substance known for its severe health hazards.
Following the test results, received on Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh BJP government banned the sale of Coldrif cough syrup across the state with immediate effect.
Advertisement
The tests were conducted by the Government Drug Analyst, Drug Testing Laboratory, Chennai. Based on the findings, the Tamil Nadu Drug Controller declared Coldrif syrup as “Not of Standard Quality (NSQ).”
Advertisement
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced on Saturday that the syrup had been banned across the state. He assured that strict action would be taken against all those found guilty of negligence in connection with the deaths.
Dr. Yadav further informed that the manufacturing unit of Coldrif syrup is located in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.
He also announced that the families of the 11 children who died in Chhindwara would be provided financial assistance of ₹4 lakh each, while the state government would bear the full treatment cost of children still undergoing medical care.
Raids are being conducted across the state to seize stocks of Coldrif syrup.
The CM explained that, upon learning of the Chhindwara incident, syrup samples were sent for testing. Saturday’s report confirmed the presence of toxic substances, prompting an immediate statewide ban.
He also revealed that a joint investigation team has been formed to probe the matter, stressing that the culprits would not be spared.
Madhya Pradesh Controller of Food and Drug Administration Dr. Dinesh Kumar Maurya has instructed all senior drug inspectors and drug inspectors to halt the sale and distribution of the syrup immediately. He directed that any available stock must be sealed and preserved, not destroyed, as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its rules.
The directives also mandate that drug samples be sent to government laboratories for testing. If other batches of Coldrif syrup are found, they too must be sealed and examined.
In the public interest, the sale and use of all other medicines manufactured by M/s Sresan Pharmaceuticals have also been suspended with immediate effect, pending testing. Strict monitoring of the movement of these drugs within Madhya Pradesh has been enforced.
The Tamil Nadu government had already banned Coldrif cough syrup on Friday, following nationwide outrage over the deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and three in neighbouring Rajasthan from suspected kidney infections.
Teams from the NCDC, ICMR, state health departments, and food and drug control agencies are conducting separate investigations into the children’s deaths.
Samples collected from children still undergoing treatment in hospitals have been sent to the Virology Institute of Pune. Additional samples of the syrup are being tested for adulteration and contamination.
On Friday, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Chhindwara MLA Kamal Nath alleged that “brake oil solvent,” a highly toxic substance, was mixed in the adulterated cough syrup, leading to the spate of kidney failures and deaths of nine children in the district between 7 September and 2 October.
The Chennai laboratory confirmed that Coldrif cough syrup contained 48.6% diethylene glycol—a toxic substance known to cause kidney failure and fatal poisoning.
Advertisement
