AMN / WEB DESK
The state government has taken strict action after 11 children died after consuming cough syrup in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. An FIR has been filed against the doctor and the manufacturing company.
Dr Praveen Soni was arrested last night. Following the case filed against the drug manufacturer, Shreesan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) will investigate Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, a report released yesterday confirmed that the harmful diethylene glycol content in Coldrif syrup was 48.6%.
After reports of the syrup’s dangers, the Tamil Nadu government also confirmed that the samples were contaminated, with Health Minister Ma. Subramanium saying strict action will be taken regarding the matter. Telangana’s Drugs Control Administration also issued a public health alert, warning the state’s residents to not use or stop using Coldrif syrup. Rajasthan’s administration also banned the pharmaceutical drug. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation also commenced an inspection of its manufacturing facility located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is cooperating with state drug regulators to trace the distribution of the contaminated batch.
What we know about the company
The Chennai-based company behind Coldrif cough syrups, which has caused fatalities in children, appears to have started as a private limited company in 1990 before being restarted as a proprietorship, according to documents seen by NDTV Profit. The cough syrup is in the eye of a storm after 14 children died of kidney failure in Madhya Pradesh after consuming it. Following an investigation, the state government said samples tested contained 48.6% Diethylene Glycol, a toxic chemical. The MP Police has filed a case against Chennai-based ‘Sresan Pharmaceutical Maker’, which on its Indiamart page claims to be a “trader” of cough syrups, protein powders, pharmaceutical syrups and herbal child growth syrups.