Chhindwara police detained doctor Praveen Soni after an FIR was filed over the death of 10 children caused by Coldrif cough syrup. According to the case, Soni allegedly prescribed the poisonous syrup to the parents. So far, 10 children have died in Madhya Pradesh district after consuming cough syrup. An FIR was filed against Dr. Praveen Soni and the Srisan company under BNS 276, BNS 105 and Section 27A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
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Acting Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Naresh Gunnade said the first suspected case of the infection was reported on August 24, followed by the first death on September 7. The initial symptoms included high fever and difficulty in urinating.
Newly appointed Chhindwara Collector Harendra Narayan told PTI during the day that two doubtful syrups had been banned and their samples along with syrups collected from victims' homes, had been sent for testing.
According to paediatrician Dr Deepak Patel from the district hospital, a team from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, had surveyed the affected areas and collected samples, while a state health department team had sent water samples from the area to a Pune laboratory for tests.
SP Chhindwara, Ajay Pandey said, "In the Parasia area of Chhindwara district, reports of children’s deaths have been coming in for the past few days. It has been noted that the deaths were due to severe cough and cold. Following this, the Block Medical Officer also conducted an investigation and submitted a report. The investigation revealed that the Coldrif syrup contained a compound that caused these deaths... Based on this, a case was registered yesterday and further legal proceedings are underway regarding the prescriptions and other related details."