UP Bans Coldrif Amid Child Death Probe
The Uttar Pradesh government has banned the sale, distribution and use of Coldrif cough syrup across the state. This decision follows reports of child fatalities in Madhya Pradesh possibly linked to contaminated syrup.
Rising Alarm Over Child Deaths
In Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, at least nine children have died in recent weeks. Authorities suspect that kidney failure may be connected to consumption of a syrup batch later found to contain excess diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical. In Tamil Nadu, a sample of Coldrif, Batch No. SR-13 (manufactured in May 2025, expiring April 2027), was declared “Not of Standard Quality” because of high DEG content.
UP Takes Precautionary Action
Uttar Pradesh’s Food Safety & Drug Administration has directed all drug inspectors to collect cough syrup samples from chemists and hospitals for testing in Lucknow. The ban is being enforced as a cautionary measure while the investigation continues.
Wider Crackdown and Investigation
In Madhya Pradesh, officials seized 433 bottles of Coldrif and traced 222 sold units, based on reports that the product was adulterated with 48.6% DEG. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced compensation of ₹4 lakh to families of the deceased and vowed strict action. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the case, including checks on manufacturing and supply lines.
Several states including Maharashtra have also banned the implicated Coldrif batch. Meanwhile, the central government has launched inspections of multiple drug units across states to find quality lapses.
As of now, authorities caution that the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, and more lab results are awaited.
