Cough Syrup Tied to Deaths of Two Young Children in Rajasthan; 22 Batches Banned

A generic cough syrup supplied through government health centres in Rajasthan has been implicated in the deaths of two children, and multiple others fell ill, prompting state authorities to ban 22 batches of the drug and launch an investigation.

Incident Details

According to Drug Controller Ajay Phatak, the health department has received reports of children becoming unwell following ingestion of the cough syrup. He stated that drug inspectors have collected samples from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Bharatpur districts; test results are expected within three days. He also cautioned that the syrup should not be given to children under the age of five.

One of the deaths involved a five-year-old boy in Sikar district. The child, Nitish, had been given the cough syrup at Chirana Community Health Centre on Sunday evening. His condition deteriorated overnight, and he passed away while being transported to a hospital on Monday morning.  Although the child’s parents declined to pursue a post-mortem or lodge a complaint, a maternal grandfather later filed a case.

An earlier incident on September 22 in Bharatpur involved a two-year-old child, Samrat Jatav, who died after being administered the same syrup at a local health centre. According to family members, among several grandchildren who consumed the medicine, two vomited and recovered, but Samrat never regained consciousness.

Other Reported Cases & Actions Taken

In one distressing episode, a senior doctor reportedly consumed a portion of the syrup in public to demonstrate its safety. Eight hours later, he was discovered unconscious in his car.  Authorities also reported that eight children, aged between one and five, in Banswara district became sick after taking the same syrup.

In response to the growing crisis, the Rajasthan government has banned 22 batches of the syrup and ordered an immediate recall of all existing stock.  Healthcare providers have been instructed to stop prescribing the medication, and all supply from Kayson Pharma has been suspended.

Since July, over 1.33 lakh bottles of this cough syrup were distributed across the state. At present, more than 8,200 bottles remain in stock at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital; these have been barred from use on patients.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Health Department has initiated an inquiry into the matter and is awaiting the lab testing of samples from the implicated batches.