Coldrif cough syrup banned in Bengal after little one deaths linked to it in Madhya Pradesh

The Bengal Chemists and Druggists Affiliation (BCDA) on Thursday (October 9, 2025) directed all retail and wholesale medication sellers within the state to halt the sale and buy of the Coldrif cough syrup with fast impact, an official stated.

The directive was issued within the backdrop of the deaths of a number of youngsters in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly after consuming the cough syrup.

In an advisory, the BCDA warned in opposition to stocking the cough syrup, he stated.

“The batch linked to the Madhya Pradesh incident has not entered West Bengal, however as a precautionary measure, we have now knowledgeable all sellers to cease its sale,” BCDA secretary Prithwi Basu stated.

A gathering with medication retailers has been scheduled on October 11 to strengthen the advisory, he added.

The event comes amid rising concern over the protection of over-the-counter cough syrups. The producer of Coldrif, a Tamil Nadu-based agency, has been arrested following the deaths, which triggered panic in a number of states, together with West Bengal.

Stories point out the syrup accommodates chemical compounds reminiscent of propylene glycol, glycerin, and sorbitol.

By the way, the West Bengal State Drug Management Board has directed that these substances be sourced solely from authorized distributors and examined in licensed labs. Take a look at stories are to be submitted to the board’s licensing authority.

Pediatricians, nonetheless, warn that the true menace might lie elsewhere.

Institute of Youngster Well being Principal Dr Jaydeb Roy stated that inner findings recommend the presence of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol within the syrup — each identified to trigger acute kidney harm.

“This is not the primary time such an incident has occurred. Vigilance is essential,” Dr Roy stated, additional cautioning in opposition to indiscriminate use of cough syrups in youngsters.

“Infants usually cannot expel mucus even when thinned by syrups. Giving such medicine with out medical recommendation will be harmful,” he stated, including that the development of shopping for medicines primarily based on web searches is deeply worrying.