A widely distributed generic cough syrup, supplied through government health centers in Rajasthan, has been implicated in the tragic deaths of two young children and numerous other illnesses over the past two weeks. This alarming discovery has forced authorities to impose an immediate ban on 22 batches of the medication and launch a full-scale inquiry into the matter, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Drug Controller Ajay Phatak disclosed to reporters that his department had received multiple complaints of children falling ill after taking the cough syrup. He stated that drug inspectors have gathered samples from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Bharatpur, with test results anticipated within three days. Phatak also issued a crucial advisory: the syrup should not be given to children under five years old.
This critical issue gained public attention following the death of a five-year-old child from Sikar district on Monday. The child passed away just hours after receiving the suspect medicine, which had been prescribed at a local community health center.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Rohitashwa Kumar of Dadiya police station confirmed that the child, Nitish Sharma, received the cough syrup at Chirana community health center on Sunday evening. His condition rapidly deteriorated overnight, leading to his death on Monday morning en route to the hospital. While Nitish’s parents initially declined to file a formal complaint or request a post-mortem, his maternal grandfather stepped forward to lodge a complaint with the authorities.
This recent tragedy brought to light a similar incident from September 22 in Bharatpur, where two-year-old Samrat Jatav also died after being given the same cough syrup, prescribed by a local health center. Samrat’s grandmother, Nehni Jatav, recounted the terrifying experience to reporters: “Three of my grandchildren took the syrup. Two recovered after intense vomiting, but Samrat never woke up. We were devastated to realize later that the medicine was responsible.”
In a shocking development, a senior doctor, Dr. Tarachand Yogi, the in-charge of Bayana community health center, reportedly consumed the syrup himself on September 24, attempting to reassure worried parents of its safety. However, he was found unconscious in his car just eight hours later.
Medical professionals have also confirmed that eight additional children, all between one and five years old, fell ill in Banswara district after taking the same syrup last week.
In response to these grave incidents, the Rajasthan government has taken decisive action, banning 22 batches of the implicated cough syrup and initiating an immediate recall of all existing stock. Jai Singh, Executive Director for quality control at Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited, informed reporters that “Doctors have received strict instructions to cease prescribing the syrup. Samples from all 22 banned batches are currently undergoing rigorous testing, and all supplies from Kayson Pharma have been suspended.”
Officials revealed that more than 1.33 lakh bottles of the cough syrup had been distributed across the state since July. While approximately 8,200 bottles of the syrup remain in stock at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital, authorities have explicitly ordered that none of it be administered to patients. The Rajasthan health department has launched a comprehensive inquiry to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding these critical incidents.