Contaminated cough syrup: 11 children die of kidney failure, 10 people including doctor undergoing treatment

BHOPAL: The number of children who died after consuming cough syrup in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has risen to 11. The death toll rose after 9 children died on Friday in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. The preliminary conclusion is that the deaths were caused by contaminated cough syrup containing the toxic chemical diethylene glycol. Dr Tarachand Yogi, a doctor at the Community Health Centre, also drank the syrup himself to prove it was safe. He later collapsed and is now undergoing treatment.

The children first came to the hospital with a fever, for which the doctor prescribed medicine and cough syrup. The fever subsided, but after a few days, the children developed fever again, along with reduced urination. This led to kidney infections. Although the children were then taken to Nagpur for advanced treatment, their lives could not be saved.

The presence of the toxic chemical found in the kidneys led police to suspect that the cough syrup was the cause of the kidney failure. However, officials said further scientific tests are still needed. Samples of the medicine have been sent for laboratory analysis.

The first case was reported on August 24, and the first death was recorded on September 7. In Rajasthan, around 10 more children who took the cough syrup are still undergoing treatment. The government has banned 22 batches of the syrup and halted its distribution.