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State Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters on 7 October that by 8 October, the death toll in MP increased to 20. The condition of at least five children is said to be critical. Three people are reported to have died in Rajasthan.
Karnataka has banned any cold and cough drug prescription for children under two years of age. Other states like Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala have also taken precautionary measures to prevent any such incident.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare Services of Karnataka issued a circular on 6 October, asking all the state government and private health institutions to ban such drugs.
The notification states, “Cough and winter syrup should not be prescribed or distributed to children under 2 years of age.” It states that such drugs should be avoided for children aged 2 to 5 unless they are prescribed after proper clinical evaluation.
Be careful before giving phlegm syrup to children.
Follow these instructions and follow the advice of the doctor.@Cmofkarnataka @Karnatakavarthe pic.twitter.com/I5C5W2TXPU
– Karnataka Health Department (@Dhfwka) 6 October 2025
The remedy is taken due to cold syrup in which the chemical substance called Dythylene Glycol (DEG) was at a high level, which was more than the prescribed limit of 0.1%.
Andaman and Nicobar
The Andaman and Nicobar administration have issued advisory asking health professionals not to advise children under two years to give cold or cough medicine.
According to the report of the news agency PTI, the decision was taken in a meeting organized by Andaman officials on 7 October as per the instructions of the Directorate General of Health Services.
Arunachal Pradesh
According to PTI, an official said on 8 October that similarly, the Arunachal Pradesh government has also banned the sale and use of Coldrif Kapha syrup. The AP Drugs Control Department issued an advisory saying that the drug should not be “bought, sold or stock” for public consumption.
This instructed government and private doctors to be vigilant while writing phlegm syrup. However, it advised the general public to avoid consuming such syrup.
Punjab
The Punjab government also banned the sale of Coldrif Syrup on 7 October. The Punjab Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that Coldrif Syrup was declared “not of standard quality” by the central government’s drug testing laboratories.
Therefore, it was completely banned for “immediate effect in public interest” for sales, distribution and use.
Delhi
The Delhi government also asked the national capital hospitals to follow the advice issued by the Center in this matter.
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh quoted PTI as saying, “All government and private health institutions should ensure that the guidelines are implemented literally.”
Jharkhand
The Jharkhand government also banned the sale of cuff syrup like Coldrif, Respifresh and Relief in a notification issued on 6 October.
Kerala
The Kerala Health Department directed on 6 October that no medicine should be given to children under 12 years of age without doctor’s advice.
Health Minister Veena George held a high -level meeting and announced the decision. A three -member expert committee was also constituted to study the use of drugs for cough and submit an immediate report.
Telangana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu also issued similar instructions by children to prevent such syrup consumption.