MP child death toll at 16: CM Yadav visits bereaved families; officials suspended

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday visited Chhindwara district’s Parasia area, where 16 children have died allegedly after consuming a contaminated cough syrup, Coldrif.

- SATYAPRAKASH SHARMA

‘Terming the tragedy “heart-wrenching and unacceptable” he cancelled all scheduled engagements and met the bereaved families at their homes, assuring them of justice and government support.

Eight other children are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals in Nagpur, Jabalpur and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The Inspector General of Police, Jabalpur, has also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Most of the children were under the age of five and died of kidney failure over the past month after consuming the cough medicine branded Coldrif syrup, which contained the toxin diethylene glycol in quantities nearly 500 times the permissible limit, according to test reports.