Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 6 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met families of Cough Syrup tragedy victims in Chhindwara on Monday, assuring them of providing the required assistance.
"Today, I have come to meet the families who lost their loved ones in a tragic cough syrup incident in Chhindwara district. As soon as we received information about the incident, we took required action into the matter. Today also, I have given orders to suspend the Deputy Drug Controller and Drug Inspector. We have urged the Tamil Nadu government to take action against the company that has produced this cough syrup. Taking cognisance of this incident, the Tamil Nadu government has banned all products of this company," CM Yadav told reporters.
The Chief minister also emphasised that the cough syrup was being manufactured not as per the standard methods following which, they informed the Tamil Nadu government about the situation, resulting in all the product of the company being banned.
"I have ordered a proper examination of medicine factories and our officials should test the medicine be it from any company or it arrives from anywhere else in the state. I stand by the affected families. It is a sensitive issue and we have been instructed to provide better treatment to the children and the families still affected by this. The administration will provide the required assistance," the CM said.
Earlier, CM Yadav said that Madhya Pradesh government took strigent steps and banned the medicines coming from Tamil Nadu factory.
"Taking action in the case, we have banned the medicines coming from a Tamil Nadu factory. Information about two more factories has been received, and orders have been given to ban those as well. We have submitted a written complaint to the concerned state government as well as the central government... We have taken action into the matter and more action orders are given today as well. We will not tolerate any kind of carelessness... I am shortly leaving for Chhindwara," he said.
"In the hour of grief, I would also like to say to Congress that raising allegations is easy but they should also focus on their past deeds when they didn't use to take actions though our government takes immediate action. We run government with sensitivity and we would take action if any government body found committing negligence," he further said.
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari also met the families of children who lost their lives after consuming cough syrup in Chhindwara district on Monday.
He also demanded the removal of the Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Rajendra Shukla, who is also the deputy chief minister of the state and financial assistance of Rs 1 crore to each affected family.
"Our Chief Minister is coming here today after eight days. When the first child died, our MLA had written a letter for an investigation. But it (death of children) is an example of complete negligence. I request the Chief Minister to dismiss the Health Minister immediately and then only it will look like you have taken the matter seriously. Financial assistance of Rs 1 crore each should be provided to the affected families," Patwatri told ANI.
At least 14 deaths have been reported due to the alleged consumption of a cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara so far, while eight children have been admitted to a hospital, said an official.