Mon Oct 13 14:08:04 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
Following recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan linked to contaminated cough syrup, drug control officials in Visakhapatnam, India, seized approximately 5,900 bottles of Rivicold cold and cough syrup (worth ₹4.5 lakh) due to labeling violations. The bottles lacked a mandatory warning against use by children under 4. The manufacturer, Bajaj Formulations, is under investigation, and officials have warned of strict penalties for selling prohibited cough syrup combinations or selling any children’s cough syrup without a prescription.
**News Article:**
**Visakhapatnam Authorities Seize Thousands of Cough Syrup Bottles Amid Safety Concerns**
**Visakhapatnam, October 13, 2025:** In the wake of tragic incidents involving child deaths linked to adulterated cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, drug control officials in Visakhapatnam have seized approximately 5,900 bottles of Rivicold cold and cough syrup, valued at ₹4.5 lakh. The action was taken following a raid on Kirbi Life Sciences, a wholesale medical agency in Marripalem, on Monday.
According to Drugs Inspector M. Srinivas Rao, the seizure was prompted by the absence of a mandatory warning label on the bottles, stating that the syrup is not suitable for children under the age of four. The syrup, manufactured by Bajaj Formulations in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, contains a combination of chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride.
“The absence of this crucial warning poses a significant risk of the syrup being improperly administered to young children,” explained Mr. Rao. A case has been registered against the manufacturer under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The seized syrups will be presented before the court for further action.
Citing the recent child fatalities, authorities have issued a stern warning against the sale of prohibited cough syrup combinations. “No cold or cough syrup for children should be sold without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner,” stated Drugs Inspector Rao.
The raid was conducted under the direction of P.S. Girisha, Director General, Drugs Control Administration, and the supervision of S. Vijaya Kumar, Assistant Director, DCA, Visakhapatnam, with the assistance of Drugs Inspector Abhipriya and police personnel.
Authorities have vowed to take stringent legal action against anyone found selling such syrups without a prescription, emphasizing the critical importance of protecting public health, particularly the safety of young children.
First Piper 