Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu act after 'contaminated cough syrup' caused death of 11 children

Apart from two deaths, several fell ill due to the substandard cough syrup distributed under the Chief Minister's free medicine scheme.

Sharma has been suspended for allegedly influencing the process of determining the drug standards, The Hindu reported.

The government has also suspended all cough syrups containing dextromethorphan from all manufacturers as several batches failed to meet the required standard.

As per Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL), 42 out of 10,119 tested samples have been found as substandard.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ordered a detailed probe and for which, an expert committee has been formed.

Meanwhile, nine children died in Tamil Nadu allegedly due to the contaminated cough syrup.

Following this, the Tamil Nadu government banned the sale of cough syrup Coldrif from October 1.

Manufactured by a Chennai-based company, the syrup was supplied to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Puducherry.

The samples from the firm's facility in Sunguvarchathram, Kancheepuram district for testing.

The authorities suspect the syrups were contaminated with Diethylene Glycol, a toxic chemical which is known to cause kidney failure, India Today reported.

In an advisory to all states and union territories, the Union Health Minister has warned against prescribing cough syrups to children below two years of age.