October 9, 2025
BHOPAL – The death toll of children from kidney failure due to the now-banned toxic cough syrup ‘Coldrif’ in Madhya Pradesh has risen to 20.
Besides, five children from Chhindwara district of MP are on ventilator support at three different hospitals in nearby Nagpur city of Maharashtra.
MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Wednesday that 20 children have died so far in the state due to kidney infections caused by consuming “contaminated” cough syrup, while five are in critical condition and are undergoing treatment in Nagpur.
“A total of 20 innocent children have died in this unfortunate incident, including those from Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna,” said Shukla, also the Deputy Chief Minister of MP.
“17 children from Chhindwara, two from Betul, and one from Pandhurna have died so far, while five children are undergoing treatment in Nagpur,” Shukla said, adding that two children are admitted in Nagpur AIIMS, two in a government hospital, and one in a private hospital.
He met the families of the deceased kids in Chhindwara on Wednesday and also held a meeting on the matter with several officials there.
Shukla had also visited Nagpur yesterday, and met with the families of the children undergoing treatment there.
A police team from Chhindwara, he informed, had reached Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, to arrest the owner of the ‘M/s Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ company that manufactures Coldrif cough syrup.
The deputy chief minister also said the government is taking the strongest possible action.