Faulty Cough Syrup Kills Two Toddlers in Rajasthan, Prompting Ban on 22 Batches
Jaipur– A routine cough syrup procured by the Rajasthan government has turned deadly, claiming the lives of two young children and sickening several others across the state in recent weeks. In response, officials have imposed an immediate ban on 22 batches of the medication and launched a probe, while urging healthcare providers to halt its use entirely.
The generic formulation, disseminated via public health facilities, first raised alarms after a series of adverse reactions. Rajasthan’s Drug Controller, Ajay Phatak, disclosed to journalists that reports surfaced of children becoming unwell post-consumption. “Inspectors have secured samples from districts including Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Bharatpur, with lab results anticipated in three days,” Phatak stated. He emphasized that the syrup must not be administered to anyone under five years old.
The crisis unfolded publicly with the death of five-year-old Nitish, son of Mukesh Sharma, in Sikar district. On Sunday evening, September 28, the boy received a dose prescribed at the Chirana community health center for a cough. His health deteriorated overnight, and he succumbed early Monday, September 29, en route to medical care. Assistant Sub-Inspector Rohitashwa Kumar of Dadiya police station informed PTI that Nitish’s parents declined to pursue a formal complaint or autopsy. However, the child’s maternal grandfather stepped forward to file the report, amplifying calls for accountability.
Echoing this tragedy was the loss of two-year-old Samrat Jatav in Bharatpur on September 22. His mother had followed a local health center’s prescription, administering the same syrup. Samrat’s grandmother, Nehni Jatav, recounted the ordeal: “Three of my grandchildren ingested it. Two managed to recover after vomiting, but Samrat slipped away without regaining awareness. It was only afterward that we connected it to the drug.”
Compounding concerns, a senior physician at Bayana community health center, Dr. Tarachand Yogi, ingested the syrup on September 24 to reassure anxious parents of its safety. Eight hours later, he was discovered unconscious inside his vehicle. Separately, health workers in Banswara district noted that eight children, aged one to five, suffered illnesses last week after taking the medication.
Rajasthan authorities moved swiftly, prohibiting the 22 implicated batches and mandating a full stock recall. Jai Singh, executive director for quality control at the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited, announced: “Prescribing has been suspended, samples from every batch are under analysis, and shipments from manufacturer Kayson Pharma remain frozen.” Since July, more than 1.33 lakh bottles had entered circulation statewide.
An estimated 8,200 bottles linger in inventory at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital, but directives are clear: none should reach patients. The state health department has initiated a formal investigation to trace the contamination’s roots and prevent further harm.