Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday (October 5, 2025) imposed a ban on the sale, distribution, import, and export of the Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Shreesan Pharmaceutical, following reports of severe adverse effects that allegedly led to the deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district.
The decision, taken as a precautionary measure, comes amid growing nationwide concern over the safety and quality of paediatric medicines. Authorities have directed all drug inspectors across Uttar Pradesh to collect Coldrif samples from both government and private medical institutions for laboratory testing.
Statewide crackdown on Coldrif samples
According to the Assistant Commissioner of Drug Administration, samples of Coldrif syrup manufactured by Shreesan Pharmaceutical, Chhindwara, will be sent to a central laboratory in Lucknow for chemical and toxicity analysis. The state has issued strict directives prohibiting any sale or distribution of the product until the laboratory results are available.
Officials stated that the move aims to prevent further casualties and ensure that potentially contaminated batches do not reach patients. “The government is taking every step necessary to safeguard public health and monitor the circulation of the drug within the state,” said a senior official from the Health Department.
The Drug Administration Department has also warned of stringent action against chemists and distributors found selling the syrup despite the ban.
Protests erupt over children’s deaths in Madhya Pradesh
The ban follows a series of protests across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after reports emerged that 14 children in Chhindwara died due to kidney failure allegedly caused by consuming the contaminated Coldrif syrup.
In Bhopal, Congress workers staged demonstrations demanding accountability from the state government and the resignation of Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla. Protesters alleged negligence in drug quality checks and accused the government of failing to enforce pharmaceutical safety regulations.
In Jaipur, similar protests were organised by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) activists. AAP workers gathered outside Kaysons Pharma, calling for an immediate shutdown of the company, which was also reportedly linked to substandard drug distribution in the region.
“Fake medicines are killing children,” say protesters
AAP worker Amit Dadhich, who led the protest in Jaipur, accused the authorities of turning a blind eye to corruption in the pharmaceutical sector.
“Several children have lost their lives, and many are still in ICU after consuming the cough syrup manufactured by Kaysons Pharma. This is not just negligence — it’s a crime,” Dadhich said, adding that even a local doctor who tested the syrup fainted after consuming it.
He demanded a nationwide probe into the circulation of counterfeit and adulterated medicines, calling it “an injustice to the people of India.”
Centre issues compliance order under Schedule M norms
Following the incident, the Union Health Ministry has directed all state governments to ensure strict compliance with the revised Schedule M norms, which govern manufacturing practices for pharmaceuticals in India. These norms include enhanced testing, traceability, and quality assurance mechanisms for drug manufacturers.
A senior Health Ministry official said, “The recent tragedy is a grim reminder of the need for stronger enforcement of good manufacturing practices. States must immediately review licenses of firms producing paediatric formulations.”
Madhya Pradesh imposes complete ban
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has already announced a statewide ban on the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup following the deaths in Chhindwara. Health officials confirmed that preliminary forensic reports indicated contamination in certain batches of the syrup, although full lab results are still awaited.
The government has also ordered an independent inquiry committee, comprising experts from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, to investigate the incident.
Public health experts raise alarm
Medical experts have urged both state and central authorities to adopt stricter surveillance and post-marketing drug testing protocols. “This tragedy exposes a systemic failure in quality control,” said Dr. Rajeev Singh, a public health researcher in Lucknow. “Many small and medium pharmaceutical firms operate without regular inspections, leading to such catastrophic outcomes.”
Experts also pointed out the need for better pharmacovigilance mechanisms to track adverse drug reactions (ADR) in children — a vulnerable group often affected by poor-quality or counterfeit drugs.
Conclusion
The Coldrif incident has once again highlighted India’s recurring struggle with pharmaceutical safety, reminiscent of past cases in The Gambia and Uzbekistan, where contaminated cough syrups manufactured in India led to multiple child fatalities.
As Uttar Pradesh joins Madhya Pradesh in banning the drug, all eyes are now on the laboratory results and the accountability measures that follow. Public health activists continue to demand nationwide reforms in drug regulation to prevent similar tragedies in the future.