CBI Probe Sought as Toxic Syrup Claims 23 Young Lives

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Oct 07, 2025
• 631

What began as a simple cough turned into a nightmare for families across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. A cough syrup meant to bring relief has instead claimed the lives of 23 innocent children, leaving behind grief, outrage, and a trail of unanswered questions.

Official reports confirm 19 deaths in Madhya Pradesh and four in Rajasthan — all linked to the consumption of ColdRip cough syrup. Laboratory investigations have uncovered a chilling truth: the syrup contained non-pharmacopoeia grade propylene glycol — a toxic industrial chemical known to cause fatal kidney damage.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country. In its aftermath, several states — including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab — have banned the sale and use of the deadly syrup.

Seeking justice, a public interest litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court, demanding a CBI investigation and the formation of a national expert commission to review drug safety and quality control mechanisms.

Health experts have called the incident “a wake-up call” for India’s pharmaceutical regulation system. They warn that this disaster is not merely a case of corporate negligence, but a reflection of deeper cracks in the nation’s drug monitoring network.

For the grieving families, however, no court order or investigation can heal the wound. A bottle meant to cure a cough has stolen laughter from their homes — a silent reminder of how fragile life becomes when trust in medicine turns deadly.