Kerala bans Coldrif cough syrup after MP, Rajasthan deaths

Health minister announced on Saturday that the state would suspend the sale and distribution of the cough syrup Coldrif, following alarming developments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

- HD Bureau

The decision came even though preliminary checks indicated the problematic batch had not been circulated in Kerala. The Drugs Control Department has ordered all distributors to halt further movement of the product and has directed pharmacies to cease dispensing it immediately. In Chhindwara district, Ma-dhya Pradesh, at least nine children—mainly under the age of five—died from acute kidney ailments that local authorities suspect may be inked to consumption of Coldrif syrup. Two additional paediatric deaths in Rajasthan involving dext-romethorphan-bas ed formulations have also raised red flags. Tamil Nadu’s drug laboratory declared the batch “not of standard quality,” citing adulteration with the industrial solvent diethylene glycol.

Production at the Kan-chipuram plant of Sresan Pharma has been suspended pending a full inquiry.