August 
India mourns after deadly cough syrup contaminates medicine supply
India mourns after deadly cough syrup contaminates medicine supply.
Tragedy in India as toxic cough syrup kills 20 children
According to the newspaper Express, at least 20 children under the age of five have died in Madhya Pradesh, central India, after consuming a contaminated cough syrup.
Local health officials confirmed that the medicine contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) — nearly 500 times above the safe limit. The deaths occurred over the past month in the districts of Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna..
The toxic chemical behind the disaster
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes DEG as a toxic substance commonly used in industrial solvents and antifreeze.
Even small doses can cause kidney failure, neurological damage, and death, particularly in children. This chemical has been linked to several previous mass poisoning cases around the world.
Manufacturer arrested after fatal contamination
According to the Exspress Police have arrested S. Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, which produced the deadly syrup known as Coldrif. Authorities detained Ranganathan in Chennai, and he is expected to be transferred to Madhya Pradesh for investigation.
Local health officials said the company’s negligence likely led to the contamination.
Authorities scramble to remove the product
According to The Express, district administrator Harendra Narayan reported that officials have recovered dozens of bottles from pharmacies and homes.
“We got 30–40 bottles through this means,” he said, adding that more were recalled from retailers and distributors. In total, about 594 bottles had been sold in the past six weeks. Door-to-door checks are underway to locate any remaining stock.
Wider fears over India’s cough syrup safety
Indian regulators have now urged the public to avoid two additional products — Respifresh and RELIFE — made by Gujarat-based Shape Pharma and Rednex Pharmaceuticals.
Both syrups tested positive for the same toxic compound. Health officials fear these findings may indicate a broader quality control failure within parts of India’s pharmaceutical sector.
A recurring pattern of deadly contamination
This tragedy follows several international scandals involving Indian-made cough syrups.
According to The Express, since 2023, similar DEG-linked poisonings have killed children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon, prompting new export testing rules.
Despite stricter oversight for exports, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that many drugs sold within India still escape comprehensive screening.
WHO issues urgent warning
According to The Express, in a statement the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed “deep concern” over the deaths, citing a regulatory gap in domestic drug testing.
The organization also warned of the “potential risk of contaminated products being exported to other countries via unregulated channels,” and called for the swift identification and removal of all tainted materials from circulation.
A global pharmaceutical wake-up call
According to The Express, India is the world’s third-largest drug producer, supplying 40% of generic medicines used in the United States and more than 90% of those consumed in many African nations.
The tragedy has renewed calls for tougher quality control and stricter domestic testing — not only to protect Indian families but also to safeguard the global drug supply chain.
This article is made and published by auk1, which may have used AI in the preparation
