Representative image (Picture credit: ANI)
BHOPAL: Three more children died in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara on Sunday after allegedly having cough syrup, taking the toll to 14 on a day a government doctor was arrested, an SIT was formed and the body of a two-year-old girl was exhumed for autopsy – the first among the reported fatalities so far.In Chhindwara, doctor Praveen Soni, who prescribed Coldrif to many of the young victims, was charged with negligence causing death. Two other deaths, of kids aged two and four, were reported from neighbouring Betul but the collector did not linkthem to cough syrup. Body of 2-year-old girl exhumed with parental consent: Cops Dr Praveen Soni was charged with prescribing many victims Coldrif, the cough syrup that MP government banned on Saturday after a test report confirmed diethylene glycol, in samples of the formulation. The FIR against Dr Soni also mentions Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer of Coldrif. All deaths were due to renal failure and most of the children were aged four and below. “The accused doctor has been arrested. The SIT will also visit TN. On Sunday, body of a two-year-old girl, who died Saturday, was exhumed with parental consent, and an autopsy was conducted. The report is awaited,” Chhindwara SP Ajay Pandey told TOI. Dr Soni, remanded in police custody, was suspended hours after the FIR, which accused him of conducting private practice and prescribing medicines without proper diagnosis. An inquiry instituted against him concluded that his negligence “caused irreparable harm” and “tarnished the department’s image”.The FIR charged the doctor and the cough syrup maker with negligence causing death, and adulterating of drugs. They were also booked under Section 27(a) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mentions that anyone manufacturing, selling, or distributing an adulterated or substandard drug that causes death or grievous harm is liable for imprisonment of up to 10 years. Chhindwara ADM Dheerendra Singh said financial aid was sanctioned for families of the 14 children: “In Nagpur, eight children are still admitted.” In Betul, officials said both victims suffered kidney failure after treatment in Parasia. However, the Betul collector did not confirm any links of the deaths with Coldrif.
