The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has issued a public alert urging residents to immediately stop using Coldrif cough syrup, Batch No. SR-13, following reports of child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly linked to the product.
In its official statement, the DCA warned that the particular batch of Coldrif may be adulterated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a highly toxic substance known to cause kidney damage and death. 
&ldquo;Residents are cautioned to immediately stop using Coldrif syrup, Batch No. SR-13, if in possession, and report it to local Drugs Control Authorities without delay,&rdquo; the release stated.
The DCA also urged the public to report possession of the syrup via its toll-free helpline, available on all working days. 
Telangana authorities said they are coordinating with their Tamil Nadu counterparts to trace the distribution network of the contaminated batch.
Drug inspectors and assistant directors across Telangana have been instructed to alert retailers, wholesalers, and hospitals to immediately &ldquo;freeze&rdquo; or stop the use and sale of the product batch.
Meanwhile, Kerala has also suspended the sale of Coldrif syrup as a precautionary measure. 
State Health Minister Veena George confirmed that a preliminary inquiry by the Kerala DCA found no record of the contaminated batch being sold in the state.
However, she said that drug inspectors had been instructed to completely halt the distribution and sale of Coldrif &ldquo;out of concern for safety.&rdquo;
According to George, the syrup was being distributed to eight suppliers in Kerala, all of whom have now been directed to stop further sales. 
Samples have been collected for testing, and similar medicines are being inspected across the state.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan had already suspended the sale of Coldrif after the deaths of nine children in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly due to the consumption of the syrup.
Subsequent laboratory tests revealed that the affected batch contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol &mdash; over 48% concentration, compared to the permissible limit of 0.1%, according to MP Drug Controller D.K. Maurya.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This level of contamination is extremely dangerous,&rdquo; Maurya stated.
The widespread suspension of Coldrif&rsquo;s sale across multiple states marks an escalating public health response to what authorities suspect could be a major case of pharmaceutical contamination and regulatory failure.

Officials inspect banned Coldrif cough syrup bottles

States act after Coldrif syrup found adulterated with toxic Diethylene Glycol

Telangana, Kerala Ban Coldrif Syrup Amid Deaths

States act after Coldrif syrup found adulterated with toxic Diethylene Glycol

October 5, 2025 | 16:57 IST