Twenty-five Indian children died after consuming toxic cough syrups contaminated with industrial solvent.

Twenty-five children in India died from toxic cough syrups contaminated with diethylene glycol, a dangerous industrial solvent, in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The syrups, made by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, contained 48.6% DEG—over 400 times the safe limit. The factory had severe violations, including unhygienic conditions and non-pharmaceutical-grade materials. Despite past warnings and repeated safety failures dating back decades, unsafe syrups remain on the market due to weak enforcement, lack of inspectors, and no national recall system. Over 100 export-focused manufacturers failed quality tests in 2024, and concerns grow over regulatory conflicts, including pharmaceutical firms buying electoral bonds. Experts demand urgent reforms, including banning irrational pediatric formulations, filling vacant regulatory roles, and establishing a judicial inquiry to prevent future tragedies.