Tamil Nadu-based Srisan Pharmaceuticals has been shut down and the manufacturing licence of cough syrup Coldrif has been cancelled in the wake of 22 child deaths, as per the state government.
Coldrif cough
syrup has been linked to the deaths of at least 24 children across Madhya Pradesh. Investigations revealed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent, in the syrup far more than the permissible limit. Several states have now banned Coldrif cough syrup.
After the child deaths were reported, Ranganathan Govindan, owner of Tamil Nadu-based Srisan Pharmaceuticals, was arrested and placed under 10-day police remand.
Govindan is accused of manufacturing and distributing the toxic cough syrup “Coldrif,” which claimed lives in Chhindwara, Parasia, Jabalpur, and Betul.
Govindan, who had been absconding with his wife since the incident, was apprehended in Chennai last week after a coordinated raid by a 12-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Chhindwara police.
Last week, an official of the Food Safety and Drug Administration department confirmed that test samples of cough syrups collected from a Chennai-based firm during an inspection conducted at its facility were found to be ‘adulterated’.
The officials had sought an explanation from the Tamil Nadu-based company and had instructed it to halt production at its facility.
