NEW DELHI : A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Madhya Pradesh, where at least 17 children have died after consuming a cough syrup that was later found to contain a deadly chemical used in industrial products. The syrup, marketed as Coldrif, was prescribed to children in Chhindwara district between mid-August and early September.

Soon after taking the medicine, the children began vomiting, stopped urinating, and suffered kidney failure. Parents rushed them between hospitals in Chhindwara and Nagpur, desperate for help, but most of the young patients did not survive.

A father from Parasia tehsil said he sold his land and did everything to save his daughter, but she did not survive.

Doctors in Nagpur first noticed a disturbing pattern of similar symptoms among several children and alerted authorities. For weeks, the state health department denied any link to the cough syrup. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the medicine contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical commonly used in antifreeze and brake fluids.

The investigation revealed that the manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, had violated hundreds of safety standards. The facility has since been sealed, and several drug inspectors have been suspended. One doctor who prescribed the syrup was arrested, though medical associations have warned that blaming individuals distracts from the larger issue of poor regulatory oversight and quality control failures.

The Madhya Pradesh government has announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for each family officially listed as a victim, but many parents claim their names are missing from the list and they have not received any support.