The survival of a five-year-old boy from a deadly cough syrup poisoning in Madhya Pradesh has come at a devastating, life-altering cost. Kunal Yaduvanshi, who consumed the toxic 'Coldrif' syrup in Parasia town, is among the few children who lived through the tragedy that claimed 26 young lives across Chhindwara and Betul districts. However, after a 116-day battle for life, he has returned home blind and unable to walk properly.
A Father's Agonizing Ordeal and Financial Ruin
"My son survived, but he returned to me without sight," said a distraught Tikku Yaduvanshi, 36, his voice trembling as he described the nightmare. The former finance company employee has been pushed to the brink, having spent the last four months solely focused on his son's treatment. "He cannot see, he cannot walk properly, and I cannot leave him even for a moment. How do I go back to work now?" Tikku asked.
To fund the prolonged medical care, which spanned multiple hospitals and culminated at AIIMS Nagpur, Tikku has exhausted every resource. He has not received a salary for four months, defaulted on his home loan EMIs, sold the family's cattle, and was forced to mortgage his wife's jewellery. The cost of staying in Nagpur with family members for months, covering food and accommodation, added a crushing financial layer to the emotional trauma.
"Govts and officials might come and go, what we have lived through in these four months cannot be put into words," he stated, highlighting the gap between official assurances and ground reality.
The Timeline of a Medical Nightmare
Kunal's health crisis began on August 24 when Tikku first took him to paediatrician Dr. Praveen Soni in Parasia. As his condition deteriorated with complications, he was seen again on August 26. By September 1, the situation was critical enough to rush him to a private hospital in Nagpur. When his health continued to worsen, he was shifted to AIIMS Nagpur on September 11, where he remained under treatment for over three months before being discharged on Monday night.
While the Madhya Pradesh government has promised financial aid for medical expenses, Tikku says it is grossly insufficient. "Whatever money we receive will go into repaying the loans we took for his treatment. It does not cover our stay, food, or the debts we piled up just to keep him alive," he explained.
An Uncertain Future and a Plea for Justice
The road ahead for Kunal is fraught with uncertainty. Doctors have not given any guarantee that his eyesight will return. He requires continuous care and rehabilitation. Tikku, now jobless and unable to leave his son's side, has a pressing question for the authorities: "I want the govt to tell me — will it bear the cost of his future treatment?"
Holding onto a sliver of hope, he added, "I have heard there are better facilities for eyesight treatment in Chennai. My child did nothing wrong. At least give him a chance."
The tragedy has triggered official action, including arrests, suspensions, and an SIT probe. The accused include Dr. Praveen Soni, his wife Jyoti Soni, and the Tamil Nadu-based manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Laboratory tests revealed the Coldrif syrup contained 48.6% diethylene glycol, a lethal industrial solvent that causes kidney failure. The state government has suspended several drug inspectors and FDA officials, admitting to regulatory failure.
Yet, for families like the Yaduvanshis, such accountability offers little solace. "My son survived death. Now we are just praying he can see the world one day — and that we are not left alone to fight this battle," Tikku said, encapsulating the ongoing struggle that survival has imposed.
