Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, was banned by multiple states after official tests confirmed diethylene glycol (DEG) adulteration in a batch linked to clusters of acute kidney injury and child deaths in Madhya Pradesh. In MP's tribal Chhindwara and Betul districts, 20 children under six died over a month after being prescribed the syrup for fever, cough and cold. DEG poisoning causes progressive renal failure. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) issued a nationwide alert. The incident echoed the 2023 Marion Biotech deaths and renewed calls for mandatory GC-MS testing of excipients and stricter QC enforcement for paediatric formulations.
Contaminated Cough Syrup 'Coldrif' Linked to 20 Child Deaths in Madhya Pradesh — Several States Ban It
AQuick answer
Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, was banned by multiple states after official tests confirmed diethylene glycol (DEG) adulteration in a batch linked to clusters of acute kidney injury and child deaths in Madhya Pradesh. In MP's tribal Chhindwara and Betul districts, 20 children under six died over a month after being prescribed the syrup for fever, cough and cold. DEG poisoning causes progressive renal failure. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) issued a nationwide alert. The incident echoed the 2023 Marion Biotech deaths and renewed calls for mandatory GC-MS testing of excipients and stricter QC enforcement for paediatric formulations.
Key facts
- Contaminated cough syrup Coldrif by Sresan Pharma (Tamil Nadu) caused 20 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh.
- Deaths occurred in tribal Chhindwara and Betul districts among children under six years of age.
- Official tests confirmed diethylene glycol (DEG) adulteration causing acute kidney injury and renal failure.
- CDSCO issued a nationwide alert and multiple states banned the syrup.
- The incident echoed the 2023 Marion Biotech case and renewed calls for mandatory GC-MS testing.
- Stricter quality control enforcement for paediatric formulations has been demanded.
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Linked questionMedium
The 2025 Coldrif tragedy is said to echo which earlier 2023 Indian cough syrup tragedy linked to child deaths?
Explanation · Correct answer A
The Coldrif incident echoed the 2023 Marion Biotech deaths (children in Uzbekistan) and renewed calls for mandatory GC-MS testing of excipients and stricter quality control enforcement for paediatric formulations.
Source: WinCalendar / Business Standard / CDSCO
Frequently asked questions
What contaminant was found in the Coldrif cough syrup and how does it cause harm?
Official tests confirmed diethylene glycol (DEG) adulteration in a batch of Coldrif cough syrup manufactured by Sresan Pharma, Tamil Nadu. DEG is an industrial solvent that is toxic when ingested — it is metabolised into glycolic and oxalic acids which damage kidney tubules, causing progressive acute kidney injury (AKI) and ultimately renal failure. Children under six are especially vulnerable due to their lower body weight and immature detoxification pathways.
Which districts in Madhya Pradesh were affected by the Coldrif cough syrup deaths and who were the victims?
The deaths occurred in Chhindwara and Betul districts, both tribal districts in Madhya Pradesh. All 20 victims were children under six years of age who had been prescribed the cough syrup for fever, cough, and cold over a period of approximately one month before the contamination was detected.
What is CDSCO and what action did it take in the Coldrif case?
CDSCO stands for the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India's national regulatory body for pharmaceutical products, functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In the Coldrif case, CDSCO issued a nationwide alert to all State Drug Controllers after lab tests confirmed DEG contamination, resulting in multiple states banning the syrup to prevent further fatalities.
How does the Coldrif case relate to the 2023 Marion Biotech case and what reforms have been demanded?
The Marion Biotech case of 2023 involved DEG-contaminated cough syrups linked to child deaths in Uzbekistan, manufactured in India. The Coldrif case echoes this tragedy, renewing calls for mandatory Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) testing of all pharmaceutical solvents before use, stricter batch release protocols for paediatric formulations, and enhanced inspections of drug manufacturing units.
Under which drug regulatory framework are pharmaceutical manufacturers in India required to ensure product safety?
Pharmaceutical manufacturers in India operate under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, which mandate Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and quality testing of all batches before release. Schedule M of the Rules lays down GMP standards. Violations can result in cancellation of manufacturing licences and criminal prosecution of company officials.
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