Chhindwara, Oct 5 (NationPress) Following the tragic deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, authorities have taken action by apprehending Dr. Praveen Soni and filing charges against him along with the Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company, Sresan Pharmaceuticals.

This incident arose after it was discovered that the children had ingested “Coldrif” cough syrup, which was found to contain hazardous substances, particularly diethylene glycol in quantities exceeding safe limits, resulting in critical renal failure.

Investigations have shown that the syrup contained 48 percent of diethylene glycol, far above the acceptable limit of just 0.1 percent.

Chhindwara Superintendent of Police, Ajay Pandey, announced the arrest during a press conference, indicating that Dr. Soni had prescribed this syrup to the majority of the affected children.

“Based on the findings of the Block Medical Officer's report, we have lodged a case under sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,” Pandey explained.

The FIR was filed at the Parasia police station late on Saturday night, with Dr. Soni being detained during a late-night operation by the police's special investigation team at Rajpal Chowk, located in the Kotwali police precinct.

Moreover, Pandey indicated that a Special Investigation Team has been constituted to examine the involvement of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the Coldrif syrup based in Tamil Nadu.

The SIT is set to visit the company’s manufacturing facility to scrutinize the origin and formulation of the medication.

“Sresan Pharmaceuticals has also been identified as a primary suspect in this case,” he noted.

The fatalities, primarily occurring in the Parasia region, had raised significant concerns in recent days, with initial reports attributing the deaths to severe cough and cold symptoms.

A thorough investigation led by the Block Medical Officer confirmed that the Coldrif syrup contained a toxic substance responsible for kidney failures among children. Legal proceedings were initiated based on this report, and an extensive review of prescriptions and the supply chain is currently underway.

Pandey emphasized that the Block Medical Officer's findings were vital for establishing the connection between the syrup and the tragic deaths.

“It was determined that the compound in the syrup resulted in renal failure in children, ultimately leading to these fatalities,” he stated.

The police are currently reviewing prescription records and other relevant documents to assess the degree of negligence and accountability involved.

This heartbreaking incident has ignited public outrage and calls for more stringent regulation of pharmaceutical production and pediatric prescriptions.

Authorities have committed to conducting a thorough investigation, ensuring that all responsible parties will be brought to justice.