Another Infant Dies in Chhindwara After Taking Cough Syrup
Tragedy Strikes Weeks After 20 Children’s Deaths Linked to Toxic Syrup in Madhya Pradesh
- A five-month-old girl, Ruhi Minote, died after being given a herbal cough syrup bought from a private medical shop in Bichua.
- Police have registered an inquest under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS); two persons from the store are being questioned.
- The medical store has been sealed, and seized medicines sent for testing by Food and Drugs authorities.
GG News Bureau
Chhindwara, 30th Oct: Barely weeks after the deaths of 20 children from toxic cough syrup-induced kidney failure, Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district has been jolted by yet another tragedy. A five-month-old girl, Ruhi Minote, died on Thursday morning after being given a mix of medicines, including a herbal cough syrup, bought from a private medical store in Bichua town.
According to police, Ruhi’s parents sought help from Kurethe Medicals on Monday after failing to find a doctor at the local government facility. “We were given small sachets of medicines and a herbal cough syrup,” said her father, Sandip Minote. “She seemed better at first but her condition worsened the next day. By Thursday, she was gone.”
The Bichua Police have registered an inquest under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and detained two individuals linked to the medical store for questioning. The district’s Food and Drugs Department and Health Department have seized the medicines for testing. “If negligence is confirmed, strict action will follow,” said Station In-charge Satish Uikey.
The shop has been sealed pending investigation.
Last month, toxic Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharma, led to the deaths of 20 children in Parasia and Chourai, with additional fatalities in Pandhurna and Betul. The syrup was allegedly prescribed by government paediatrician Dr. Pravin Soni at his private clinic. Six people, including Dr. Soni and Sresan Pharma owner Ranganathan Govindan, have been arrested so far.
On Thursday, the SIT added Dr. Soni’s wife, Jyoti Soni, to the list of accused for allegedly destroying evidence. She remains absconding.
Public outrage has intensified across Chhindwara, with residents demanding stricter pharmacy regulation and routine inspection of over-the-counter medicines to prevent another such tragedy.
