Indian Cough Syrup Manufacturer Arrested After 17 Children Die in Madhya Pradesh

Indian authorities have arrested the owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, the company behind the cough syrup linked to the deaths of at least 17 children in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.

The victims, all under the age of five, reportedly died over the past month after consuming ‘Coldrif’ cough syrup, which was found to contain toxic diethylene glycol at nearly 500 times the safe limit, according to laboratory tests conducted last week.

The syrup, manufactured by the Tamil Nadu–based company, has since been banned in several parts of India following confirmation of the contamination.

Police confirmed that S. Ranganathan, the company’s owner, was arrested on Wednesday in Chennai. He is expected to be presented in court before being transferred to Chhindhwara, Madhya Pradesh, where the deaths occurred, said Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reportedly flagged regulatory gaps in India’s pharmaceutical oversight system following multiple cases of contaminated cough syrups exported or distributed within the country.

Health officials have sealed Sresan Pharma’s factory and placed a notice of closure on the premises as investigations continue into the source of the contamination and possible lapses in quality control.