Deadly Cough Syrup Scandal: 19 Children Dead in Madhya Pradesh as Opposition Demands Accountability

The opposition has demanded bulldozer action against the health minister as the death toll rises.

A mysterious illness affecting children in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district has evolved into a severe public health crisis and ignited political controversy.

The death toll from children who consumed Coldrif cough syrup has reached 19 in Madhya Pradesh, with three-year-old Vedant Kakudia and two-year-old Jayusha Yaduvanshi from Chhindwara recently succumbing during treatment in Nagpur. Nine additional children remain on life support with kidney failure.

Chhindwara ADM Dhirendra Singh confirmed these fatalities and reported that five children from the district are in critical condition.

Further laboratory analysis has identified two additional cough syrups - ReLife and Respifresh TR - manufactured in Gujarat, containing hazardous levels of diethylene glycol, the same chemical responsible for deaths among children who took Coldrif. Officials have initiated immediate procedures to ban both products.

According to government regulations, cough syrups must contain no more than 0.1% diethylene glycol. Four samples failed compliance tests, raising concerns about kidney failure and brain damage among exposed individuals.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state government will cover all treatment expenses for affected children from Chhindwara and Betul who are receiving care at Nagpur Government Medical College, AIIMS Nagpur, Colors Hospital, New Health City, and Gateway Hospital. "Necessary arrangements have been implemented to ensure optimal treatment," Yadav stated, noting that teams of magistrates and doctors are positioned in Nagpur to support families.

Opposition leaders have launched strong criticisms against the government. Opposition Leader Umang Singhar and Congress MLA Sohan Lal Balmiki have accused authorities of criminal negligence and corruption. During a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday, Singhar declared, "After the first child died, our Parasia MLA Sohan Balmiki wrote letters to everyone from the collector to the chief minister and health minister. However, the government remained inactive."

"This represents more than negligence—it demonstrates corruption and commission-seeking. A judicial inquiry is essential. When authorities demolish a poor person's home for minor violations, why not direct bulldozers toward the health minister's residence, who bears responsibility for these children's deaths?" he questioned.

MLA Balmiki expressed similar outrage, stating, "The government destroys people's homes for trivial matters, but what action will it take when its own negligence causes children's deaths? Will bulldozers target Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla's home, who also serves as health minister?"

Singhar alleged the government failed to follow the 72-hour response protocol. "They delayed testing procedures, then exhumed a child's body days later merely to conceal the scandal," he claimed.

On Monday, State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari visited Chhindwara, demanding 1 crore rupees compensation for affected families and the health minister's resignation.

Chief Minister Yadav responded that Congress and Patwari should avoid making "frivolous remarks." He added that during Congress governance, the party committed the "sin" of helping then-Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson, accused of killing 10,000 people in the Bhopal gas tragedy, escape from India.

"Throughout its 41 years in power, Congress has never demonstrated sensitivity," the chief minister remarked, adding that officials have now received directives to conduct random inspections to prevent similar incidents throughout the state.