Toxic Syrup Deaths Expose Major Failures in India’s Drug Supply Chain

Many children have died from drinking cough syrup / Photo File (Business Standard)

Several children in India have died in recent months after consuming contaminated cough syrup, raising serious concerns about the country’s pharmaceutical safety standards and regulatory oversight.

Initial findings by health and drug safety officers in Tamil Nadu suggest that the syrup’s propylene glycol may have been tainted with diethylene glycol, an industrial chemical that is lethal when used in medicines. The substance is typically used for non-pharmaceutical purposes and is considered highly dangerous if ingested.

Investigators discovered that the chemical was purchased by Srisan Pharma through Sunrise Biotech from a supplier identified as Jankshala Aroma. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of industrial toxins in the syrup. Authorities are now trying to determine how the contaminated solvent became part of the formulation used to dissolve active ingredients.

The incident prompted regulators to revoke Srisan Pharma’s manufacturing licence. The company’s founder, G. Ranganathan, has been arrested as part of the expanding probe. India’s central drug regulator has also ordered heightened monitoring of pediatric syrups and additional inspections across manufacturing units.

A factory inspection revealed multiple lapses, including poor hygiene, irregular record-keeping and several safety violations. Although investigators stopped short of linking these issues directly to the deaths, they noted that the conditions fell well below acceptable standards.

Further scrutiny showed that the propylene glycol had been repackaged without seals before supply, and that neither Jankshala Aroma nor Sunrise Biotech held licences to provide pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. These findings point to significant weaknesses in the supply chain and long-standing gaps in enforcement.

The tragedy has renewed national and international attention on India’s drug manufacturing practices, highlighting the urgent need for stronger regulation, tighter quality controls and robust oversight of raw material suppliers.