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The Rajasthan government banned 22 batches of the medicine and froze their distribution.
Police and health officials have since launched an investigation into the drug. (Representative Image)
A cough syrup manufactured for the Rajasthan government has been linked to the deaths of at least two children and left more than 10 others ill, NDTV reported. Police and health officials have since launched an investigation into the drug, which was supplied by Kayson Pharma, a pharmaceutical company contracted by the state.
The dangers of the syrup, which contains dextromethorphan hydrobromide, first came to light after Nitish, a five-year-old boy from Sikar district, died just hours after being given a dose on Sunday. His mother had administered the syrup prescribed by a doctor at the Chirana Community Health Centre. According to the family, Nitish woke up around 3 am hiccuping but went back to sleep after drinking water. He never woke up again. The boy was rushed to hospital the next morning but was declared dead on arrival, as per the report.
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After Nitish’s death, the family of two-year-old Samrat Jatav in Bharatpur realised the same cough syrup had caused his death days earlier on September 22. Samrat and two other children in the household were given the syrup. While the others eventually woke up and vomited, Samrat remained unconscious and later died at Jaipur’s JK Lon Hospital, NDTV reported.
Doctor Falls Unconscious After Testing Syrup
In Bayana, Dr Tarachand Yogi, head of a community health centre, attempted to prove the syrup’s safety by consuming a dose himself after complaints from a parent. He also gave some to an ambulance driver, according to NDTV. Within hours, both fell ill. Dr Yogi reportedly felt drowsy while driving, parked his car on the roadside and was later found unconscious after his family tracked his mobile phone location. The ambulance driver experienced similar symptoms but recovered after treatment. Meanwhile, in Banswara district, eight more children aged between one and five fell sick in the past week after being given the syrup.
Government Action
The Rajasthan government banned 22 batches of the medicine and froze their distribution. Officials told NDTV that 1.33 lakh bottles of the syrup had already been supplied to patients since July, while another 8,200 bottles remain in stock at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital.
The state’s Drug Controller Ajay Phatak told NDTV that another cough syrup manufactured by Kayson Pharma had been barred last year over quality concerns.
Rajasthan, India, India
October 01, 2025, 20:57 IST
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