Chennai Pharma Firm Owner Held After Toxic Cough Syrup Kills Children in MP
G. Ranganathan, the owner of Chennai-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, was arrested following the tragic deaths of multiple children in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh. The children, all under five, reportedly died after consuming a locally distributed cough syrup, Coldrif. Tests revealed the presence of diethylene glycol—a toxic chemical often used in industrial products—in the syrup, which can cause acute kidney failure.
Authorities launched an investigation and found serious lapses in the company’s manufacturing practices and quality control measures. The production facility has since been sealed, and its drug license suspended. Police have initiated proceedings under stringent laws, considering the deaths as a case of negligence amounting to culpable homicide.
The incident has sparked public outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of pharmaceutical products for children. It also underscores the urgent need for stricter regulatory oversight in the Indian drug manufacturing sector to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.
