National Times Bureau :- The Punjab Government has banned the sale, distribution and use of Coldrif cough syrup following reports linking the medicine to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The decision comes after at least 10 children died in Chhindwara district due to the alleged consumption of the toxic syrup.
According to official orders issued by the Punjab Health Department, all retailers, distributors, registered medical practitioners, hospitals, and healthcare institutions have been directed not to purchase, sell, or use the product. If any stock of the syrup is found, it must be immediately reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Punjab.
The order cites a report from the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration’s drug testing laboratory, released on October 4, which confirmed that the cough syrup did not meet quality standards. The tested sample of Coldrif syrup, batch number SR-13, was manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu).
The syrup, produced in May 2025 and set to expire in April 2027, was found to contain Diethylene Glycol (46.28% w/v) — a toxic chemical known to cause severe kidney and liver damage, and potentially death.
The Punjab Government stated that since the syrup has been linked to multiple child deaths in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, its sale, distribution, and use are now strictly prohibited in the state.
Medical stores, distributors, and hospitals have been instructed to ensure that no stock remains in circulation. If the product is found anywhere in Punjab, it must be reported immediately to the Drugs Control Wing of the Punjab FDA at drugscontrol.fda@punjabs.gov.in.
