Written by Abhimanyu HazarikaGurgaon | October 7, 2025 05:40 AM IST 3 min readBetween August and October, at least 11 children from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh district died, allegedly after consuming contaminated cough syrupIn the wake of deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly due to adulterated cough syrup, the Health department in Gurgaon has asked pharmacies and hospitals to ensure that these medicines are not sold for children or prescribed to them.Speaking with The Indian Express on Monday, Gurgaon Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Alka Singh confirmed that the directions have been issued. “Even as we have not received any official order yet from the State Directorate of Health Services, they have orally communicated to us to exercise full caution in this regard. On Sunday, we asked hospitals under us not to prescribe or sell cough syrup till we get more clarity about the origin, and details of compliance with health safety and manufacturing norms,” Dr Singh said.The pharmacists in the district too, she added, have been directed not to sell cough syrups for children, and the Indian Medical Association has also been alerted to pass on the instructions to doctors having private clinics or hospitals.Story continues below this adAlso Read | Maharashtra FDA directive against sale, use & distribution of cough syrup“We asked private hospitals too to ensure that their paediatric units are not prescribing any cough syrups until further orders. It is a matter of great concern that after Madhya Pradesh, similar cases are being reported from Rajasthan too,” Dr Singh added.When asked for alternatives for children in the meantime, Dr Singh said, “Cough syrups are anyway not necessary for young children. They can be given Ayurvedic (based) medicine too for cough and related symptoms.”Between August and October, at least 11 children from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh district died, allegedly after consuming contaminated cough syrup.On Saturday, the state government had ordered an immediate ban on sales and distribution of Coldrif, the syrup manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The ban came after a test report from the Government Analyst at the Drug Testing Laboratory in Chennai said its sample was “found to be adulterated, since it contains Diethylene Glycol (48.6% w/v) which is (a) poisonous substance which may render the contents injurious to health.”Story continues below this adAlso Read | ‘Been prescribing this cough syrup for 15 years’: Doctor arrested for Madhya Pradesh children’s deathsThe deaths in Madhya Pradesh coincided with at least four recent casualties in Rajasthan.Rajasthan has banned the distribution of cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan, as well as the distribution of all 19 types of medicines supplied by Kaysons Pharma, the company at the centre of the controversy, until further notice.Taking note of the casualties, the Union Health Secretary last week held a high-level meeting with states and union territories (UTs) on the “quality and rational use of cough syrups”.At the meeting, states and union territories were advised to ensure enhanced surveillance, timely reporting by all health facilities, and strengthening inter-state coordination for early reporting and joint action, among others.Story continues below this adIn an advisory issued on Friday by Centre, states and UTs were urged to ensure “rational use” of cough syrups, underlining that such medication was not recommended for children below five years of age.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Gurgaon