The death toll of children from kidney failure linked to the now-banned toxic cough syrup ‘Coldrif’ in Madhya Pradesh (MP) has risen to 20, state authorities confirmed on Wednesday. Five more children from Chhindwara district remain in critical condition and are currently on ventilator support at three hospitals in nearby Nagpur, Maharashtra.
MP Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said the deaths were caused by severe kidney infections resulting from the consumption of “contaminated” Coldrif syrup. The product has since been banned, and a criminal investigation is underway.
“A total of 20 innocent children have died in this unfortunate incident, including those from Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna,” Shukla told reporters. “Seventeen children from Chhindwara, two from Betul, and one from Pandhurna have died so far, while five children are undergoing treatment in Nagpur.”
Among the five critical cases, two children are admitted at AIIMS Nagpur, two at a government hospital, and one at a private facility. Shukla visited the families of the deceased in Chhindwara on Wednesday and held a high-level meeting with health and district officials to review the situation.
He also visited Nagpur a day earlier, where he met with the families of the children receiving treatment. Health officials say the affected children developed kidney complications shortly after taking Coldrif syrup for common cough and cold symptoms. Symptoms escalated rapidly, leading to acute kidney failure in several cases.
The contaminated syrup is manufactured by M/s Sresan Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. A police team from Chhindwara has been dispatched to Kancheepuram to arrest the owner of the company. Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific toxic substance found in the syrup, but similar cases in India in the past have involved contamination with diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol—industrial chemicals that are highly toxic when ingested.
Shukla assured that the state government is taking “the strongest possible action” against those responsible. “This is a grave and heartbreaking situation. The government will ensure strict accountability and justice for the families who have lost their children,” he said.
Health officials have launched statewide inspections of medical shops to seize any remaining stocks of Coldrif syrup. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has been informed of the situation, and central agencies are expected to assist in further testing and investigation.
The tragedy has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed calls for stricter regulation of pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution in India. Experts say the case underscores recurring gaps in quality control and enforcement within the country’s drug supply chain.
For the affected families in Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna, the loss has been devastating. Many of the children were under the age of six, and parents say they had trusted the syrup as a routine remedy for seasonal ailments. Investigations continue as authorities work to prevent further tragedies and hold the responsible parties accountable.
