In response to the alarming fatalities, the Arunachal government enforces a Coldrif Cough Syrup Ban to prevent further child casualties and ensure public safety.

The Arunachal Pradesh government has banned the sale and use of Coldrif cough syrup in the wake of death of 21 children in Madhya Pradesh, linked to consumption of the medicine.

Arunachal Pradesh Drugs Controller Dr. Komling Perme said that the advisory has been issued following reports linking the cough syrup to child deaths in other states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The order prohibits the sale, stocking, and consumption of the product with immediate effect, citing the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical, found in samples of the syrup tested in Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

The advisory was issued following a nationwide alert from the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of India, urging all states to ensure rational use of cough syrups in children.

The advisory also directed physicians in both government and private hospitals to be on vigil while prescribing cough syrup to children.

Meanwhile, the department has advised the general public to avoid consumption of the cough syrup.

Also read: Doctor Detained for Questioning Over Cough Syrup Linked to 11 Child Deaths in Madhya Pradesh