Madhya Pradesh Doctor Arrested After Deadly Cough Syrup Kills 11 Children

Bhopal | October 5, 2025 In a tragic development in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, a government doctor, Praveen Soni, has been arrested after 11 children died following the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup. Most of the affected children had been treated at Dr. Soni’s private clinic in Parasia. The deaths have sparked outrage and prompted authorities to take swift action against both the doctor and the manufacturer of the syrup. Dr. Soni, a paediatrician, had prescribed Coldrif to children presenting with routine cold and fever symptoms in early September. Initially, families reported mild improvement after administering the syrup. However, within a few days, the children’s conditions worsened. They experienced reduced urine output, which quickly developed into severe kidney infections, ultimately leading to death. Kidney biopsies later confirmed contamination of the syrup with diethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical. Following these deaths, the Madhya Pradesh government immediately banned the sale of Coldrif across the state. Another cough syrup, Nextro-DS, was also prohibited as a precautionary measure, although its test results are still awaited. Laboratory testing by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Drug Control at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai showed that Coldrif contained 48.6 percent diethylene glycol and was declared “Not of Standard Quality.” A case has also been filed against Srisan Pharmaceuticals, the Tamil Nadu-based company that manufactured Coldrif. The factory producing the syrup is located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, and authorities in that state have also been asked to conduct further testing. States including Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have already banned the syrup following similar incidents. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the deaths as “extremely tragic” and vowed strict action against those responsible. “The sale of this syrup has been banned across Madhya Pradesh. A ban is also being imposed on other products manufactured by the same company,” he said. Yadav confirmed that both local and state-level investigation teams have been formed to ensure accountability. He added that the guilty parties will not be spared. Families of the victims are left grieving and demanding justice. They recounted how the children initially appeared to recover after taking the syrup, only to rapidly deteriorate within days. The incident has raised serious concerns about drug safety and regulatory oversight, with authorities emphasizing that routine medications must be carefully tested before being administered to children. The Madhya Pradesh government’s swift action, including the arrest of the prescribing doctor and the filing of a case against the manufacturer, highlights the seriousness of the incident. Officials continue to review laboratory reports, trace the distribution of the syrup, and investigate all responsible parties. Public health authorities have also warned parents to avoid giving children any cough syrup until safety confirmations are provided. This tragedy has sparked national outrage, with calls for stricter monitoring of pharmaceutical companies and stronger regulations to prevent such incidents in the future. The focus now remains on ensuring justice for the affected families and preventing further loss of young lives. Madhya Pradesh Doctor Arrested After Deadly Cough Syrup Kills 11 Children In Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, 11 children died after taking Coldrif cough syrup prescribed by Dr. Praveen Soni, who has now been arrested. Most victims were treated at his private clinic in Parasia. Tests revealed the syrup contained toxic diethylene glycol, leading the state to ban Coldrif and another syrup, Nextro-DS. A case has also been filed against the manufacturer, Srisan Pharmaceuticals of Tamil Nadu. Families reported that children initially seemed to recover but later developed kidney infections. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav called the deaths tragic and assured strict action, while authorities continue investigations to prevent further incidents.