Forensic report confirms presence of DEG in MP cough syrup victims’ samples

Bhopal: Forensic reports have confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG), a highly toxic industrial solvent known to cause acute kidney failure, in the viscera samples of children who died after consuming Coldrif cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh in Oct 2025, effectively shutting the door on any other explanation or alternative medical causes for the loss of lives, an official who is part of the investigation told TOI.In the Coldrif samples seized from Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the cough syrup, as well as from leftover bottles collected from the homes of the victims in MP in the aftermath of the deaths, nearly 48% of the content was found to be DEG.The findings will form the backbone of a supplementary chargesheet expected to be filed soon against the 11 accused arrested so far.The tragedy unfolded between Aug and Oct last year, when children under treatment for routine symptoms like fever and cough were prescribed Coldrif syrup at a govt health facility in Chhindwara district. Within days, several of them developed acute kidney failure and other complications, and were referred to Nagpur for advanced medical treatment. As many as 25 children, mostly from Chhindwara and Betul districts, lost their lives, with the latest death reported earlier this month when Harsh Yaduvanshi, who had slipped into coma on Sept 26 last year, succumbing at AIIMS-Nagpur just days after he turned four.The official associated with the investigation told TOI that laboratory analysis of the seized samples of batch SR-13 of the cough syrup that was supplied to Chhindwara had revealed shockingly high levels of DEG contamination. Now, a months-long toxicological examination conducted at state Forensic Science Laboratories has established a direct link between the contaminated batch and the deaths."This is the most important finding of the investigations so far. The presence of DEG and its metabolites in the viscera of the kids whose postmortem examination was done, and whose viscera samples were sent for toxicological and forensic investigations, is crucial. There could be multiple reasons for kidney failure, but now the presence of the same dangerous chemical that was found in the samples taken from the factory as well as leftover bottles, and in the bodies of the children who died, leaves no room for doubt," the official said."We are now awaiting the opinions of subject experts. All this evidence and the opinions will be produced before the court in the supplementary chargesheet soon. We got this report a few days ago and took the opinion of experts on this report as well as the postmortem report. They concluded that DEG is the cause of deaths," the official added.Police had traced the contaminated batch SR-13 to Sresun Pharma's manufacturing unit, and investigations had found that industrial-grade DEG was used in place of a pharmaceutical-grade solvent. Sresan Pharma owner G Ranganathan, a company employee, supplier Shailesh Pandiya and Chhindwara doctor Praveen Soni who prescribed the medicine are among the 11 accused arrested and lodged in jail.