A major breakthrough has been achieved in the case of the poisonous cough syrup that claimed the lives of 24 innocent children in Madhya Pradesh. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government raided Chennai on Wednesday-Thursday night and arrested Govindan Ranganathan, director of Sresan Pharma, the company that manufactured the syrup.
Ranganathan had a reward of 20,000 rupees on his head and had been absconding with his wife. This arrest is being considered a significant turning point in the investigation, raising serious questions about the health system across the country.
One more child succumbs
Meanwhile, the number of children who have died due to kidney failure after consuming cough syrup has risen to 24. Three-year-old Mayank Suryavanshi, a resident of Pachdhar village in Umreth tehsil of Chhindwara, died during treatment on Wednesday-Thursday night. He had been admitted to Nagpur Medical College since September 25th.
Syrup was made from non-pharmaceutical grade chemicals
Meanwhile, a major revelation has emerged in the investigation of the cold syrup. A report from the Tamil Nadu Director of Drugs Control revealed that the syrup was made from non-pharmaceutical grade chemicals.
Company had purchased 100 kg of the toxic chemical
During the investigation, the company owner verbally admitted that he had purchased two 50-kg bags of propylene glycol in two batches. This means the company had purchased 100 kg of the toxic chemical. No bills were found during the investigation, nor were any purchase records recorded. During questioning, investigating officers were told that payments were made sometimes in cash and sometimes through G-Pay.
The pharmaceutical company purchased substandard propylene glycol and never had it tested. Shockingly, the company has neither purchase bills nor records of the chemicals used.
What lab testing revealed
Lab testing also revealed that the presence of toxic chemicals like diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) in the syrup was 486 times higher than the permissible limit.
Meanwhile, an expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that this amount is not only fatal for children but can also damage the kidneys and brain of an animal the size of an elephant.