Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned two additional cough syrups after detecting dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), amid investigations into the deaths of at least 14 children in Chhindwara. The banned medicines are ReLife and Respifresh TR, which were found to contain DEG far above the permissible limit of 0.1 percent — ReLife at 0.616% and Respifresh TR at 1.342%.
Officials said the Drug Controller has ordered an immediate halt to sales and the seizure of all existing stocks of the medicines. The ban follows earlier prohibitions on Coldrif and Nextro-DS in connection with the same incident. Eight children remain hospitalized following alleged consumption of contaminated cough syrups.
In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a high-level meeting and ordered strict administrative actions, including the suspension of two drug inspectors, the Deputy Director of the FDA, and the transfer of the Drug Controller. CM Yadav emphasized zero tolerance for negligence in matters affecting human life.
“The state government is vigilant and sensitive. No negligence will be tolerated,” CM Yadav said, noting that Drug Inspector of Chhindwara Gaurav Sharma, Drug Inspector of Jabalpur Sharad Kumar Jain, and Deputy Director Shobhit Koshta have been suspended, while Drug Controller Dinesh Maurya has been transferred.
Additionally, the government directed that the existing stock of Coldrif syrup be seized from shops, and a campaign will be conducted to recover the drug from households in Chhindwara and surrounding districts to prevent further casualties.
