Himachal halts production of Nexa DS cough syrup after Madhya Pradesh flags child deaths
Baddi Industrial are photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Oct 4
The Himachal Pradesh Drug Department has halted the production of Nexa DS cough syrup manufactured by Aquanova Pharma in the state after the Madhya Pradesh government flagged suspected links between certain cough syrups and the deaths of children.
According to official sources, the Madhya Pradesh government wrote to both the Himachal Pradesh government and the state’s Drug Controller, seeking an investigation into two syrups — Coldrif and Nexa DS. While Coldrif is not produced in Himachal, Nexa DS is being manufactured by Aquanova Pharma. The Himachal Drug Department has suspended its production as a precautionary measure pending laboratory results.
Himachal’s Drug Controller, Manish Kapoor, said that after receiving the communication from Madhya Pradesh, the department immediately began an inquiry. “We have identified the companies that supplied the drugs from Himachal to Madhya Pradesh. In collaboration with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), we have started risk-based inspections,” Kapoor stated.
Preliminary findings from Madhya Pradesh’s investigation revealed that the cough syrup administered to sick children contained ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol— toxic chemicals commonly used in vehicle coolants and anti-freeze solutions. Experts warn that even minute quantities of these substances can cause severe kidney and brain damage, and their sweet taste makes accidental ingestion particularly dangerous.
Taking the issue seriously, the Madhya Pradesh Health Department has written to the governments of Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh—where the syrups are produced—urging them to halt manufacturing. Thirteen samples of the suspected syrups have been sent for laboratory testing to determine the exact source of contamination.
Authorities have not yet confirmed which company’s product caused the fatalities, but the inter-state probe is ongoing to ensure consumer safety and accountability.
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