DEG in Coldrif Syrup Linked to 16 Deaths

Laboratory tests linked the deaths of at least 16 children in Madhya Pradesh and additional cases in Rajasthan to Coldrif cough syrup (batch SR‑13) made by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, finding diethylene glycol (DEG) concentrations of about 48.6%. Tamil Nadu drug inspectors who raided Sresan’s Kancheepuram facility reported industrial‑grade propylene glycol bought from local chemical dealers, no quality testing, rusted equipment, and no qualified chemists or pharmacovigilance, which investigators say could have enabled deadly contamination. States and hospitals have banned sales, seized stocks and issued advisories—Goa ordered an immediate stop to sales of the batch and Telangana issued public advisories—while central and state health agencies have launched probes and expanded testing and inspections. Madhya Pradesh announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh per victim and a doctor who prescribed the syrup has been arrested; medical associations have urged his release and blamed regulatory and manufacturing failures rather than prescribers. Investigations are continuing into supply chains, manufacturing practices and clinical causes as authorities test more samples and review regulations to prevent further DEG poisonings.