Madhya Pradesh cough syrup death toll touches 22, CM Mohan Yadav says Tamil Nadu ‘not cooperating’
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav alleged that authorities in Tamil Nadu were “not cooperating” in the investigation. Screengrab: X/@CMMadhyaPradesh
The death toll linked to the contaminated syrup Coldrif touched 22 in Madhya Pradesh with two more children from Chhindwara district dying during treatment in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on Wednesday night.
Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals based in Tamil Nadu’s Kancheepuram, has been linked to the deaths after drug control authorities of Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu found it adulterated with over 45% of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav alleged that authorities in Tamil Nadu were “not cooperating” in the investigation. “Our police have made arrests where the medicine was manufactured, but the Tamil Nadu government is not cooperating the way it should. The Tamil Nadu Drug Controller should conduct a regulatory investigation of the pharmaceutical company,” he said.
छिंदवाड़ा में अमानक कफ सिरप से हुई बच्चों की दुखद मृत्यु की घटना की जांच के लिए एसआईटी का गठन किया गया है। प्रदेश की पुलिस ने तत्परता दिखाते हुए तमिलनाडु से दवा निर्माता कंपनी के मालिक को गिरफ्तार किया है। यह हमारी सरकार की संवेदनशीलता का स्पष्ट प्रमाण है।
दोषियों को किसी भी… pic.twitter.com/MQucMlsk5Q
— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) October 9, 2025
The two children from Chhindwara’s Parasia block died due to suspected renal failure, Additional Collector Dhirendra Singh said. “We are currently verifying their medical documents to confirm the causes of deaths,” he added.
Of the 22 victims, two were from Betul and one from Pandhurna districts, while 19 were from Chhindwara. Three children, who allegedly consumed the syrup, are still critical and undergoing treatment in Nagpur.
Mr. Yadav, who visited the children in Nagpur, questioned the licensing process of pharmaceutical companies in Tamil Nadu and said the investigation has revealed a problem with the manufacturing process.
“Who were the people responsible for granting this company a drug licence? Questions should be asked about how the factory operated in such a small space. How was the licence renewed without inspection? How was this pharmaceutical company granted an industry licence again,” he asked.
Chhindwara Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajay Pandey told The Hindu that G. Ranganathan, proprietor of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, was arrested from his house in Chennai by an SIT of the Madhya Pradesh Police in a joint operation with the local police.
“We have seized some documents regarding his company ownership and operations from him. We are currently interrogating him and based on the findings, we will pin down on more people,” he said.
A six-member SIT, currently in Tamil Nadu to investigate the case, will seek a transit remand for Mr. Ranganathan, Mr. Pandey said.
Published – October 09, 2025 08:07 pm IST
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