Death toll rises to 13 in MP as another toddler succumbs to death

In a heartwrenching escalation of Madhya Pradeshs ongoing public health crisis oneandahalfyearold Dhani Dehariya from Junapani village in Tamia tehsil took her last breath at Nagpurs Government Medical College and Hospital GMCHAs reported by news agency IANS the toddler succumbed to acute renal failure triggered by the contaminated Coldrif cough syrupThe Chief Medical Health Officer of Chhindwara district Naresh Gonnade while emphasising the unfortunate situation said that This marks the 13th confirmed child fatality as cited by news agency IANSHowever when the CMHO was asked if the death was linked to the toxic elixir he remained silent His silence over this question tells a lot about the ongoing situation around the cough syrup horror in the tribal heartland of Chhindwara districtThe toxic cough syrup since the last few days has claimed young lives aged between one and eight years However the state government has not declared the exact number of deaths linked to toxic cough syrupDhani a frail girl battling a persistent cough and cold who according to her parents was prescribed the deadly syrup by Praveen Soni during a consultation at his private clinic in Parasia just days before her condition deterioratedSoon after Dhanis health became more concerning her parents rushed her to the local community health centre on September 26 There she exhibited symptoms of severe dehydration and oliguria ndash hallmarks of kidney shutdownThe CMHO further said She was under treatment at Nagpur Medical College and died Monday night as cited by news agency IANSTransferred to GMCHNagpur amid suspicions of poisoning the toddler fought valiantly for 11 days on dialysis and ventilator support but succumbed to multiorgan failure a doctor from Nagpur told IANS on condition of anonymityAuthorities confirmed the syrups role through toxicology reports revealing diethylene glycol DEG This DEG is reportedly a lethal industrial solvent used in brake fluids and antifreeze ndash at 486 per cent concentration in the batch far exceeding safe limitsSoni a government paediatrician at CHC Parasia moonlighting in private practice has been in police custody since his arrest on October 5 under Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide and drug adulterationFurthermore the FIR at Parasia station also implicates Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu which has been blacklisted nationwideFollowing the tragedy and the ruckus that has been going on all across Maharashtra over the deaths related to cough syrup three more cough syrups were flagged Monday for similar DEG traces broadening the probe reported IANSThe toxic cough syrup saga echoes a darker history reminiscent of the 1986 Mumbai hospital tragedy where contaminated syrup killed 14 children as per IANSOver the past month since late August 16 prior victims ndash mostly from Parasia and Tamia blocks ndash perished similarly with ten treated in Nagpur aloneSix more children linger in critical care at GMCH and private facilities three on ventilators their tiny frames ravaged by tubular kidney injury confirmed via biopsiesChief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced Rs 4 lakh ex gratia per family and free treatment for survivors vowing a Special Investigation Team SIT to unearth supply chain lapsesThis is unforgivable negligence no child should pay with their life for substandard drugs he thunderedIn response the state suspended two drug inspectors and a deputy director and transferred the drug controller while Maharashtra and Punjab imposed preemptive bans on ColdrifThe Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation CDSCO has launched raids across six states alerting practitioners to shun paediatric syrups for children under five years Telanganas Drugs Control echoed the warning after linking three Rajasthan deaths to the same scourgeWith IANS inputs