New Delhi: A growing investigation into the deaths of several children in India has revealed serious failures in drug manufacturing and oversight, prompting nationwide concern about the safety of medicines sold in the country.
At least two dozen children from Madhya Pradesh and nearby regions died after consuming a cough syrup called Coldrif, produced by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer based in Tamil Nadu. Government tests later confirmed that the syrup contained high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial chemical that can cause kidney failure, especially in young children.
Authorities found that the contamination may have come from a chemical used in the syrup’s preparation. The solvent, propylene glycol, had travelled through a long supply chain before reaching the factory. Investigators said it was repackaged in India without proper safety seals, creating gaps in quality control. According to officials, the factory itself had a large number of violations, including poor hygiene, weak documentation, and failures in routine testing.
The government has since declared three cough syrups unsafe for use. These include Coldrif, Respifresh TR and ReLife. Lab results showed significantly high levels of toxic chemicals in all three products. Coldrif was found to contain nearly half its volume in diethylene glycol, far above permissible limits.
The tragedy has led to strong public anger in Madhya Pradesh, where most of the deaths occurred. Families say children fell sick soon after taking the syrup and died within days. Local leaders have accused the state administration of reacting too slowly.
Reports suggest that drug samples were sent for testing through normal postal services instead of faster routes, causing further delays.
Former chief minister Kamal Nath has called the deaths a result of official negligence and demanded financial support for the affected families. Some civil society groups are also preparing to approach the Supreme Court to seek a wider investigation into India’s drug safety system.
India is one of the world’s largest producers of generic medicines, and repeated incidents involving contaminated syrups have raised international concern. In the past three years, similar cases linked to Indian made syrups were reported in West Africa and Central Asia, affecting both trust and export confidence.
The central drug regulator has begun nationwide inspections of pharmaceutical factories and is reviewing the safety of all children’s cough syrups. The government has already rejected requests from drug manufacturers to delay mandatory upgrades to meet global safety standards.
Investigators are still trying to determine how the toxic chemical entered the syrup and whether it was due to accidental contamination or deliberate substitution. Legal action is expected once the full report is completed.
For now, the focus remains on strengthening checks across the supply chain and restoring public confidence. Families who lost their children are urging authorities to act quickly so that no one else suffers from a tragedy that they believe was preventable.