NEW DELHI: The Madhya Pradesh government on Monday suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director of the food and drug administration following the deaths of 14 children in Chhindwara, allegedly due to renal failure linked to a “toxic” cough syrup. Chief minister Mohan Yadav also transferred the state’s Drug Controller, Dinesh Maurya, after reviewing the situation in a high-level meeting.The suspended drug inspectors are Gaurav Sharma and Sharad Kumar Jain, posted in Chhindwara and Jabalpur, respectively. The suspended Deputy Director is Shobhit Costa, an official said, as quoted by PTI.Of the children who died, 11 were from Parasia sub-division, two from Chhindwara city, and one from Chaurai tehsil. Eight children are being treated in Nagpur—four in a government hospital, one at AIIMS, and three in private facilities, officials said.Police have formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the deaths. Dr Praveen Soni from Chhindwara has been arrested for alleged negligence, and a case has been registered against the manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceutical, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.Following findings from the Tamil Nadu drug controller that Coldrif syrup samples were invalid, the Madhya Pradesh government banned the sale of the syrup. Officials said the drug samples were found to contain a highly toxic substance.The chief minister directed officials to confiscate stocks of the banned Coldrif cough syrup from shops and launch a campaign to recover the medicine from families in Chhindwara and surrounding districts. He also stated that the effectiveness of other medicines recently sold in the area should be assessed.During the high-level meeting, Yadav emphasised the need for cooperation from all government officials and employees, along with ASHA and USHA workers, in the campaign to recover the banned syrup.Yadav further directed precautions and awareness measures in collaboration with medical organisations, including the Indian Association of Pediatrics and the Chemist Association, to prevent such incidents from recurring. He also said the Tamil Nadu government should be informed to take appropriate action against the manufacturer, reported PTI.Further action included suspending the doctor who prescribed the syrup to most affected patients and registering an FIR against the manufacturer.
