Doctor Arrested in Madhya Pradesh After 14 Children Die from Toxic Cough Syrup

Doctor Arrested Amidst Tragic Child Deaths

Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have arrested a doctor in connection with the deaths of 14 children in the Chhindwara district, allegedly caused by a toxic cough syrup. The physician, Dr. Praveen Soni, a government paediatrician who also operated a private clinic in Parasia, was taken into custody on Saturday night, October 4, 2025. Police have also registered a case against the manufacturer of the implicated cough syrup, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, based in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Contaminated Syrup Identified as Coldrif

The deaths have been linked to Coldrif syrup, which laboratory tests confirmed was contaminated with dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG). Samples of Coldrif Syrup (Batch No. SR-13, Mfg. May 2025, Exp. Apr 2027) were found to contain 48.6% diethylene glycol, significantly exceeding the permissible limit of 0.1%. Diethylene glycol is a poisonous chemical commonly used in industrial solvents like antifreeze and brake fluids, and can be fatal if ingested even in small amounts. The children, mostly under the age of five, developed symptoms consistent with acute kidney injury, including reduced urine output and elevated creatinine and urea levels, after consuming the syrup.

Investigation and Statewide Ban

The tragic incidents unfolded over approximately one month, with the first suspected case reported on August 24 and the first death on September 7. Following the confirmation of contamination, the Madhya Pradesh government swiftly banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif cough syrup across the state on Saturday, October 4, 2025. The ban was also extended to all other products manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also banned the product. An FIR has been registered against Dr. Praveen Soni and Sresan Pharmaceuticals under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and adulteration of drugs, as well as Section 27A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Dr. Soni has also been suspended from his government post.

Victims and Broader Implications

Of the 14 children who died, 11 were from Parasia sub-division, two from Chhindwara city, and one from Chaurai tehsil. Several children remain hospitalized in Nagpur with kidney complications. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased children and assured that the state government would cover the treatment costs for affected children. The Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated risk-based inspections of drug manufacturing units in six states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, focusing on cough syrups, antipyretics, and antibiotics. This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the quality and safety of medicines, particularly cough syrups, manufactured in India, which have faced global scrutiny in recent years.