In the quiet villages of Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, what started as a simple cough in young children turned into a nightmare no family could have imagined. Over the past year, a contaminated cough syrup has claimed the lives of at least 24 innocent kids, mostly under five years old. Now, this tragedy has boiled over into a big political fight. Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written a sharp letter to the current Chief Minister, Dr. Mohan Yadav, saying the government has failed to keep its word on helping the victims’ families with medical bills.
This story is not just about loss—it’s about broken promises, angry parents waiting for money, and questions on why such a thing could happen in the first place. As the families struggle to pay hospital bills while mourning their children, Kamal Nath’s words have put the spotlight back on the state government’s handling of the crisis. Let’s dive deep into what happened, why it’s still hurting people, and what leaders are saying.
The Pain That Started It All: How the Crisis Began
It was around September and October 2023 when the first signs of trouble appeared in Chhindwara and nearby Betul districts. Parents noticed their little ones—toddlers fighting common colds—suddenly getting very sick. Fever gave way to vomiting, weakness, and then, in many cases, kidney failure. Doctors rushed the kids to local hospitals, but for too many, it was too late.
The common thread? A cough syrup called Coldrif, given to ease the coughs. This was no fancy medicine—just an over-the-counter syrup many families trusted for their kids’ sniffles. But tests soon showed the horror: the syrup was laced with Diethylene Glycol, or DEG, a cheap but deadly chemical used in industries like making paints and antifreeze. It’s not meant for human bodies, especially not tiny ones.
“DEG is like poison in slow motion,” says Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a kidney specialist from AIIMS Bhopal who treated some victims. “It builds up in the kidneys, shuts them down, and there’s no easy fix. In children, it hits fast and hard.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), DEG has caused similar outbreaks before—in Indonesia in 2019 and Gambia in 2022—killing dozens of kids worldwide. The WHO issued a global alert in October 2023, warning countries like India to check their syrups.
By November 2023, the death count had climbed to 24. Families buried their children with heavy hearts, wondering how a medicine meant to help became the killer. One mother from Chhindwara, speaking to local media on condition of anonymity, shared her pain: “My four-year-old son coughed for two days. I gave him the syrup from the village clinic. Next day, he couldn’t walk. We sold our goat to pay for the ambulance, but he was gone in 48 hours. Now, the hospital wants more money we don’t have.”
This wasn’t just bad luck. Investigations pointed to sloppy manufacturing. The company behind Coldrif, based in Tamil Nadu, had cut corners—using industrial DEG instead of safe ingredients to save costs. The state’s drug inspectors missed it during routine checks. In response, the MP government suspended the Drug Controller and an Assistant Drug Controller for “gross negligence.” A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up, leading to arrests: the manufacturer’s owner, a local doctor who pushed the syrup, and suppliers in the chain.
The Tamil Nadu government revoked the company’s license, shutting it down. But while the law chased the guilty, the families waited—for justice, for closure, and most urgently, for help with the bills piling up from emergency treatments.
Broken Promises: The Aid That Never Came
Right after the deaths hit the headlines, the state government stepped in with big words. On October 15, 2023, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced in the assembly: “The full cost of treatment for all affected children will be paid by the government. No family will suffer alone in this hour.” It was a promise meant to calm nerves and show action.
Months passed. Hospitals treated kids on ventilators, ran dialysis machines, and kept families in ICUs—costs running into lakhs per child. But the money? It didn’t flow. By April 2024, when Kamal Nath, the local MLA and former CM, wrote his letter, families were drowning in debt.
In his April 10, 2024, letter—made public soon after—Nath didn’t hold back. “The whole country feels the pain of these families,” he wrote. “The government promised to cover all treatment costs, but not a single rupee has reached them. Hospitals are now chasing these poor parents for payments, adding to their sorrow.”
Nath, who represented Chhindwara for decades, knows the area’s struggles—rural families living hand-to-mouth, relying on farms and small jobs. He pointed out a district proposal for aid had been sent to Bhopal weeks earlier, but it sat without approval. “This is a humanitarian crisis, not politics,” Nath urged. “Please order the release of funds at once. Let the government pay the bills directly so no family breaks further.”
His words hit hard. Congress workers took to streets in Chhindwara, holding protests with placards reading “Promises Empty, Hearts Broken.” Local BJP leaders called it “election drama,” but the CM’s office stayed quiet at first. Finally, on April 15, 2024, a government spokesperson said: “The proposal is under review. Funds will be released soon—delays are due to verification.” But as of November 2025, reports from families and NGOs like Child Rights and You (CRY) say many bills remain unpaid, with some families borrowing from moneylenders at high interest.
This delay isn’t just numbers on paper. It’s real pain. Take Sunita Bai, a widow from Betul whose three-year-old daughter survived but needs ongoing dialysis. “We spent 2.5 lakhs on her care,” she told reporters in May 2024. “The government said they’d pay, but nothing. My in-laws sold land to cover it. How do we live now?” Stories like hers echo across the districts, turning grief into anger.
Politics Heats Up: A Clash Between Old Guard and New
Madhya Pradesh‘s politics has always been a battlefield, but this feels personal. Kamal Nath, 78, is a veteran Congress leader who led the state from 2018 to 2020. He lost the CM chair in a dramatic floor test but holds sway in Chhindwara, his pocket borough. Writing to Mohan Yadav, 59, the BJP’s rising star who became CM in December 2023, Nath mixed respect with rebuke.
“This incident has shaken the nation’s soul,” Nath wrote, quoting lines from his letter verified by The Times of India. “The double blow—losing a child and then fighting for money—is unbearable.” He ended with a plea: “Act fast, for humanity’s sake.”
Yadav’s response came indirectly. In a rally in Indore days later, he said: “We are committed to the families. Investigations are on, and aid will reach them. Congress should help, not hinder.” But critics say the BJP government, focused on upcoming urban polls, has dragged feet on rural health issues.
Opposition leaders jumped in. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted in April 2024: “Heartbreaking to see MP kids pay for system failures. Where is the aid, CM Yadav? #JusticeForChhindwaraKids.” Even some BJP MLAs from the area whispered concerns, fearing voter backlash in tribal-heavy Chhindwara.
Nationally, it ties into bigger talks on drug safety. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in a Lok Sabha reply in February 2024, admitted: “India saw 14 such contamination cases since 2020. We’re tightening rules.” Yet, experts like Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, warn: “Poor oversight in small labs lets poisons slip through. India must invest in testing now.”
The Bigger Picture: Why This Keeps Happening in India
This isn’t Madhya Pradesh’s first brush with bad medicines. Remember the 2023 Gurugram eye drops scandal or the 2018 Uttar Pradesh steroid mess? India makes 20% of the world’s generics, but corners cut for profit lead to risks. DEG is cheap—costs pennies per liter versus safe propylene glycol at five times the price.
A 2024 NITI Aayog report flagged gaps: Only 30% of drug samples get tested yearly, and rural clinics often stock unverified stock. In Chhindwara, a tribal belt with high poverty, parents trust local chemists blindly. “We don’t read labels; we trust the doctor,” says Ramu, a farmer whose nephew died.
The SIT probe, ongoing as of 2025, has charged 12 people under IPC sections for culpable homicide. But families want more—compensation beyond bills, like the Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia announced but not fully paid. NGOs push for a national fund for drug victims, similar to Japan’s post-scandal setup.
Health activists call for change. “Ban DEG imports for pharma outright,” says Dr. T. Jacob John, virologist. “And train ASHA workers to spot fakes.” The central government rolled out the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment) Rules 2024, mandating barcode tracking, but rollout is slow in states like MP.
As monsoon coughs return this year, fear lingers. Parents in Chhindwara now boil herbal teas, avoiding syrups. “I’ll never give bottled medicine again,” vows one father. The government’s recent Rs 10 crore allocation for district health labs is a start, but trust is hard to rebuild.
Voices from the Ground: Quotes That Capture the Hurt
To understand the depth, hear from those touched:
- Kamal Nath (April 2024 Letter): “These families face not just the loss of their kids but the daily fight for survival. The state’s delay is a second wound.”
- CM Mohan Yadav (Assembly Speech, Oct 2023): “Every life lost is a failure for us. We will leave no stone unturned for the affected.”
- Anonymous Victim Mother (NDTV Interview, Nov 2023): “My baby smiled that morning. By evening, he was in pain. The syrup took him. Now, they want money for his suffering.”
- WHO Spokesperson (Global Alert, Oct 2023): “Substandard syrups are a hidden killer. Parents worldwide deserve safe medicines.”
- MP Congress President Jitu Patwari (Presser, April 2024): “This is criminal neglect. BJP talks development, but kids die from dirty drugs.”
These words remind us: Behind stats are stories.
Looking Ahead: Calls for Real Change
As 2025 ends, the Chhindwara tragedy fades from front pages but not from memories. Families form self-help groups, sharing tips on safe remedies. The district collector’s office now runs awareness camps, teaching parents to check expiry dates.
But the political row lingers. With MP assembly polls in 2028, aid delays could cost votes. Kamal Nath’s letter, reprinted in local papers, keeps pressure on. “It’s not about parties; it’s about people,” he told a town hall in October 2025.
For India, this is a wake-up. Strengthen drug checks, speed up aid, and listen to the voiceless. Until then, every cough in Chhindwara carries a shadow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Chhindwara Cough Syrup Tragedy
1. What exactly caused the deaths in the Chhindwara cough syrup case?
The main culprit was Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical mixed into the Coldrif cough syrup. Made for factories, not medicines, DEG damages kidneys badly. Kids drank it thinking it was safe for coughs, but it led to failure in hours or days. Labs found DEG levels 100 times over limits. This matches past cases, like the 1986 Nigerian outbreak killing 100+ children. In India, the CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control) confirmed it in tests by October 2023. Simple fix? Use safe substitutes, but greedy makers chose cheap poison.
2. How many children died, and where did it happen?
At least 24 kids, all under five, lost their lives. Most cases were in Chhindwara district, with some in Betul—rural spots in southern Madhya Pradesh, home to many tribal families. The first death was reported September 25, 2023; by November, the toll hit 24. Over 100 others got sick but survived with quick care. Numbers come from MP health department data and SIT reports. Sadly, under-reporting might mean more hidden cases in remote villages.
3. What did the government do right after the tragedy?
Quick moves included banning Coldrif sales statewide on October 5, 2023, and forming an SIT under IG police. They arrested the Tamil Nadu firm owner, a prescribing doctor, and three chemists by December 2023. Suspensions hit two drug officers. CM Yadav promised full medical aid and Rs 5 lakh per family. WHO praised the alert but said testing must improve. Still, follow-through on promises lags, as Nath’s letter shows.
4. Why hasn’t the promised financial help reached the families yet?
The state said it’d pay all treatment costs in October 2023, but bureaucracy slowed it. District plans for Rs 3-4 crore in reimbursements went to Bhopal in March 2024, awaiting nod. Hospitals, low on funds, bill families directly—some dues over Rs 1 lakh each. As of November 2025, only 40% paid out, per CRY audits. Reasons? Paperwork checks and budget shifts to elections. Families face loans; one sold jewelry last month.
5. Who is responsible for letting contaminated syrup reach kids?
Blame spreads: The manufacturer for using DEG to cut costs (license canceled). Local inspectors for missing samples (suspended). The doctor for over-prescribing without checks. And the system—India tests just 10% of drugs yearly, says a 2024 FICCI report. No single villain, but weak rules let it slip. Courts now probe under IPC 304A (death by negligence); trials ongoing in Jabalpur high court.
6. Has anything changed in drug safety after this?
Yes, but slowly. Central rules now require child-safe testing for syrups and barcodes on packs. MP added 10 new labs in 2024, training 500 inspectors. But experts say it’s not enough—rural chemists still sell old stock. Parents learn via ASHA workers: Shake bottles, check seals, avoid unknowns. Globally, WHO pushes “no syrup without proof.” In MP, cases dropped 70% in 2025 cough season, but vigilance needed.
7. What can families or parents do if they suspect bad medicine?
Act fast: Stop use, save the bottle/label. Rush to hospital for kidney checks. Report to toll-free 1800-11-800 or CDSCO app. Join local groups for support. For aid, contact district collector or helpline 1077. Long-term, push for community pharmacies with verified stock. Remember: Homemade ginger-honey works for mild coughs—no risks.
8. Will there be more tragedies like this in India?
Risks remain high without full fixes. With 1.4 billion people and hot climates breeding coughs, syrup demand soars. But awareness grows—apps like MedSafe scan barcodes now. If states like MP speed aid and checks, we can cut chances. As one activist says: “One death is too many; let’s make zero the norm.” Stay informed, stay safe.