Coldrif Cough Syrup Chhindwara Case Explained

How did a common cough syrup cost a 5-year-old girl her life? This is the true story of Rishika from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, one of the children who died after taking Coldrif cough syrup contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical.

In August 2025, Rishika came down with an ordinary cold and fever. A local doctor in Parasia prescribed Coldrif cough syrup. Within hours of the first 5 ml dose she began vomiting, and after the second dose she stopped speaking and could not recognise her own parents. Tests later showed a creatinine level of 5.73, far above the normal range for young children, which meant both of her kidneys were failing.

With no paediatric dialysis available in Chhindwara and limited ICU beds at AIIMS Bhopal, her father Suresh, a farmer, took her 125 km to a private hospital in Nagpur. The family sold their jewellery and borrowed nearly ₹14 lakh for her treatment. Rishika died on 16 September 2025. On the same day, the government issued a notice that a specific batch of Coldrif cough syrup had been contaminated with diethylene glycol.

In this video, we explain: - What diethylene glycol is and why it is so dangerous for children - How cough syrup is made, and how DEG can replace safe solvents like propylene glycol or glycerol - What the police investigation found at the manufacturing company - The action taken by authorities, including the ban and the owner's arrest - What parents, doctors, and pharmacists should keep in mind before buying, prescribing, or selling medicines

Rishika's story is not hers alone. The same syrup took the lives of 24 other children.

If you have young children at home, please watch till the end and share this video with other parents.

This video is part of our public awareness series. Every story on this channel is real and based on verified facts.