M.P. and Kerala ban cough syrup brand; Centre starts inspection of pharma units
The Union Health Ministry has initiated a risk-based inspection at the manufacturing units of 19 drugs sampled across six States after the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department found diethylene glycol (DEG) above permissible limits in samples of the Coldrif brand of cough syrup, Ministry officials said on Saturday.
An investigation is on into the deaths of at least 10 children linked to the consumption of cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. “This move will help find out the gaps leading to quality failure of drug samples and suggest process improvement to avoid such incidents in future,” the Ministry said in a statement.
In an order on Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh government prohibited the sale and distribution of Coldrif in the State.
Sale banned
The State’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) banned the sale of Coldrif and all other products from its manufacturer — Sresan Pharmaceuticals based in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu. The decision comes a day after the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department ordered the manufacturer to stop its production after an analysis found a batch to be “not of standard quality” and “adulterated with diethylene glycol”.
The Kerala government has also ordered a ban on the distribution and sale of Coldrif.
However, the Union Health Ministry had on Friday ruled out that the syrup samples contained DEG or ethylene glycol (EG).
The Ministry said that six samples were collected by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and testing found that all six were found to be free of DEG and EG. Simultaneously, the Madhya Pradesh FDA had said that out of 13 samples collected by their team, three were analysed and found to be free of DEG/EG.
Additionally, the multidisciplinary team comprising of experts from the National Institute of Virology, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, the CDSCO and the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, are still analysing the various samples and studying the cause of deaths in and around Chhindwara in M.P..
The order by the M.P. government, issued by Dinesh Kumar Maurya, Food and Drugs Administration Controller, cited the test report from T.N. and said the samples were found to contain 48.6% of DEG, “which is a poisonous substance that may render contents injurious to health”. The order asked officials to seize batches of the syrup available in the market and send samples for testing.
DEG and EG are industrial solvents used in antifreeze, paints, brake fluids, and plastics. Sometimes, they contaminate pharmaceutical ingredients such as glycerine, often due to poor oversight or suppliers using cheaper industrial-grade material.
Takaichi set to be Japan’s first woman PM
Conservative Sanae Takaichi hailed a “new era” on Saturday after becoming head of Japan’s ruling party, putting her on course to become the country’s first woman Prime Minister.
The 64-year-old from the Liberal Democratic Party will almost certainly be approved by parliament later this month as Japan’s fifth Prime Minister.
Conservative Sanae Takaichi hailed a “new era” on Saturday after becoming head of Japan’s ruling party, putting her on course to become the country’s first woman Prime Minister.
The 64-year-old, whose hero is Margaret Thatcher, said that a “mountain of work” lay ahead to restore the fortunes of her ailing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The LDP has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades but it has been haemorrhaging support as backing grows for smaller parties, including the anti-immigration Sanseito.
Ms. Takaichi will almost certainly be approved by Parliament later this month as Japan’s fifth Prime Minister in as many years. She is set to face a host of complex issues including an ageing population, geopolitical upheaval, a faltering economy and growing unease about immigration.
“Together with so many of you, we have carved a new era for the LDP,” Ms. Takaichi said at LDP headquarters after winning a run-off vote against the telegenic and more socially progressive Shinjiro Koizumi.
“We must all pull together across all generations and work as one to rebuild [the LDP]… Everyone will have to work like a horse,” she said to applause.
Ms. Koizumi, 44, would have been Japan’s youngest Prime Minister in the modern era and represented a generational change for the LDP.
One of Ms. Takaichi’s first official duties as premier will be receiving U.S. President Donald Trump, who is reportedly set to make a stopover in Japan in late October.
Ms. Takaichi said on Saturday that she had no plans to overturn Tokyo’s recent trade deal — over which questions remain X— with Washington.
Ms. Takaichi has been a strident critic of China’s military build-up, and as a regular visitor to the Yasukuni war shrine, her appointment may irk Beijing as well as Seoul.
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry reacted to her win by saying “it is hoped that Japan will abide by… its political commitments on major issues such as history and Taiwan, (and) pursue a positive and rational policy toward China”.
Outgoing premier Shigeru Ishiba took the reins last year but his LDP-led coalition lost its majority in both Houses of Parliament, in part because of voter anger at inflation and an LDP slush fund scandal.
Vision group formed for developing‘C’ category temples
The Hindu Bureau BENGALURU
The Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department has set up a vision group for making recommendations for developing infrastructure at 34,165 ‘C’ category historical and ancient temples in the State.
The seven-member group consists members from diverse backgrounds, including K.E. Radhakrishna (educationist), K.C. Ramamurthy (former MP), and Shankuntala Shetty (former MLA).
The Budget for 2024-25 announced the constitution of the vision group to provide basic facilities to ‘C’ category historical temples without any income.
Minister for Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department Ramalinga Reddy said the vision group would suggest to the department type of infrastructure required at temples which are in a dilapidated condition.
The group will also suggest ways to collect funds from donors for the renovation of temples, preparing a plan for renovation, mobilising funds under the CSR from various companies, and establishing coordination among various departments.
Modi lauds Trump leadership in Gaza, Hamas response on truce
PM’s welcome of U.S. proposal is part of efforts to improve India-U.S. ties, say experts; the 20-point proposal wants Hamas to release hostages, return remains of those who died in captivity, while Israel will call ceasefire, release about 2,000 Palestinians
Praising U.S. President Donald Trump for his “leadership”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed signs that the U.S.’s Gaza peace proposal may make headway on hostage release.
The Prime Minister was reacting to a statement by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, shared by Mr. Trump, that said it was willing to discuss the release of all remaining hostages held since October 2023. Mr. Modi’s statement came a few hours after Mr. Trump released a video thanking Arab and Islamic countries who had helped mediate the discussions and called upon Israel to “stop the bombing of Gaza”.
“We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward,” Mr. Modi posted on Saturday morning, adding that India would continue to “strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace”, while tagging Mr. Trump’s social media accounts.
This is Mr. Modi’s second statement on the U.S. proposal. On September 30, he had also welcomed the announcement of Mr. Trump’s “Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict”, calling it a “viable pathway to long-term and sustainable peace, security and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region”.
He had also issued the statement over social media in all official UN languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, as well as Hebrew, in a move aimed at maximising its reach.
The Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on whether India had been taken into confidence over the U.S.’s proposal or has discussed taking part in the Gaza reconstruction project thus far.
On Friday, the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to specific questions on the issues by referring to Mr. Modi’s posts.
“We would, like other stakeholders, [want] all concerned to come together and strengthen this effort, so that the conflict comes to an end and there is enduring peace in place,” Mr. Jaiswal said.
Experts said that Mr. Modi’s vigorous welcome of the proposal, and praise of Mr. Trump have as much to do with Gaza as they are an effort to improve India-U.S. relations that have been under a strain for months over a number of issues, including tariffs and the trade agreement.
Mr. Trump was also visibly upset when the Modi government countered his claims on mediating an end to the India-Pakistan conflict in May, and unlike Pakistan, has not nominated the U.S. President for a Nobel peace prize, as Mr. Trump has repeatedly said he deserves the honour for ending a number of global conflicts.
New Delhi has also watched with unease the growing role of Pakistan in the West Asian arena, including the Saudi-Pakistan defence pact announced last month, and Mr. Trump’s inclusion of Pakistan along with Indonesia, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries that he consulted with on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, before announcing his peace proposal.
Indian companies could also be invited to take part in the reconstruction process, Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has suggested, and New Delhi would not want to seem remiss in praising the U.S. effort, the experts, who did not want to be named, said.
The U.S.’s 20-point proposal, released along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stipulates that Hamas would release all hostages and return the remains of those who died in captivity, while Israel will call a ceasefire and release about 2,000 Palestinians, including women and children, detained since October 2023.
It then goes on to propose the transfer of power from Hamas to a transitional government made up of Palestinian technocrats, and International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to take over security in Gaza, and a “Board of Peace” headed by Mr. Trump to oversee the reconstruction.
While the Hamas statement issued on Friday said it was prepared to begin talks for the process of hostage release, and it would hand over power to a Palestinian transitional government, it has not responded to the other proposals so far.
UIDAI waives charges for biometric updates of children
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has waived all charges for the mandatory biometric updates of children aged seven to 15, a move that is expected to benefit about six crore minors. The waiver is already in effect from October 1 and will be in force for a period of one year. “The first and second MBUs [Mandatory Biometric Update], if performed between 5-7 and 15-17 years of age, respectively, are thus free of cost. Thereafter, a prescribed fee of ₹125 per MBU is charged. With this decision, MBU is now effectively free for all children in the age group of 5-17,” said a release from the Press Information Bureau.
The case to rethink India’s influenza vaccination strategy
In India, the burden of influenza is substantial but often underestimated; current vaccines provide only short-lived protection; experts suggest a biannual vaccination schedule and government-backed policy could reduce cases
For most of us, influenza, or “the flu”, is dismissed as a seasonal nuisance that causes fever, cough, and body aches for a week or so before disappearing. Influenza is far from harmless, however. Worldwide, it’s a major cause of respiratory illness, hospitalisation, and deaths, especially among children, older adults, and people with underlying medical conditions.
In India, the burden of influenza is substantial but often underestimated. While the government tracks seasonal influenza through its national surveillance system, official focus remains largely on the H1N1 strain, a.k.a. “swine flu”. Yet recently, the winter months of 2024-2025 saw an unexpectedly severe outbreak of influenza B, a strain that usually causes milder illness in children. And as the post-monsoon season unfolded, the H3N2 strain drove a fresh surge.
Two vaccines’ quirks
Recent surveillance data show India’s influenza outbreaks have two distinct peaks: during the winter months (January-March) and in the post-monsoon period (July-September). This pattern, together with the short-lived protection provided by existing influenza vaccines, forces us to consider whether our current approach to flu vaccination is sufficiently protective. The influenza virus constantly undergoes genetic changes known as antigenic drift. They allow it to escape the body’s immune defenses as well as force vaccines to be updated regularly. Unlike measles or polio vaccines, which provide long-lasting immunity, flu vaccines only offer moderate protection and are reformulated every year. Around the world, multiple strains of flu, such as H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B, circulate simultaneously, and matching vaccine strains with circulating viruses is quite challenging.
The two main types of vaccines available in India are inactivated influenza vaccines, administered by injection, and live attenuated vaccines, given as a nasal spray. Both types can reduce the risk of influenza but their effectiveness varies greatly depending on the strain and the vaccinee’s age. The protection is typically strongest against H1N1, moderate against influenza B, and weakest against H3N2.
A major concern with these vaccines is their limited duration of protection. Antibody levels increase after vaccination, peak within a few weeks, and gradually decline. Several studies have shown that vaccine effectiveness drops significantly within three to six months, with some evidence suggesting protection may almost completely fade within only 90 days. For countries with a single influenza season, this decline is less of an issue because one well-timed annual dose can adequately protect people during the peak period. In India, however, where the virus strikes twice a year, the short-lived immunity leaves large segments of the population vulnerable during the second peak.
Thus, an annual influenza vaccine doesn’t fit India’s reality. A shot before the monsoon may protect against outbreaks in July-September, but by the time the winter wave arrives in January, much of that immunity has waned. Similarly, a shot before winter might shield people until March but won’t hold up through the next monsoon season. So whichever dose is chosen, half of the year’s influenza burden remains unaddressed.
Less than 5%
The logical alternative is to introduce a biannual influenza vaccination schedule for India. Under this system, people would receive one dose in May or June, just before the onset of the monsoon, and another dose in November or December, ahead of the winter wave. This approach could ensure more consistent protection across both peaks, dramatically reducing the number of influenza cases, hospitalisations, and deaths.
While the idea of two flu shots a year may seem demanding, the health benefits could be significant, particularly for children, who account for the largest share of influenza-related hospitalisations and deaths in India.
Despite flu vaccines having been available for over a decade now, less than 5% of Indians receive them. This lack of acceptance stems partly from a perception that influenza is a minor illness, partly from limited public awareness, and partly from an absence of government policy support. Currently, influenza vaccines aren’t part of the Universal Immunisation Program (UIP). They are instead left to the private market and are often seen as optional. For a disease that causes lakhs of severe cases every year, this indifference is surprising and costly.
Biannual vaccination, if backed by government policy, could be a turning point. By including it in the UIP, India could leverage its strong domestic vaccine production capacity to make vaccines more affordable and accessible. Coupled with public awareness campaigns, such a move could raise coverage and normalise influenza vaccination in the public mind.
Vipin M. Vashishtha is director and paediatrician, Mangla Hospital and Research Center, Bijnor. Puneet Kumar is a clinician, Kumar Child Clinic, New Delhi.
How is India responding to crowding disasters?
Why did things get out of hand at actor Vijay’s political rally in Tamil Nadu? What are the crowd control protocols in place? Are these measures statutory? Where have the most enforceable initiatives emerged? Should responsibility of managing crowds be fixed on organisers?
On September 27, a political rally by actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district ended in a fatal crowd crush in which 41 people were killed. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin appointed a one-person commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to examine the tragedy’s causes. He said rules for public events would be framed once the commission submitted its report.
What happened in Karur?
The event was part of Mr. Vijay’s first State-wide political tour. TVK organisers initially presented a list of four central business locations in Karur for the rally, but the police rejected them as they were too congested and instead granted permission for Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode road, where other political parties had previously held events. The organisers said Mr. Vijay would speak at 12 p.m., and supporters began assembling from 9 a.m. He was delayed however, and as the day wore on, the crowd grew steadily, with several thousands gathering in the evening. By the time Mr. Vijay reached Karur from Namakkal around 6 p.m., his convoy could not access the meeting spot because of the crowd. The congestion worsened when the gathering was forced to make way for his vehicles. Witnesses described having no space to move. Residents also recalled younger people climbing poles and transformers to get a glimpse of the actor while others said the event’s timing coincided with evening wage disbursals for textile workers, adding to congestion in the area.
As the programme began around 7.20 p.m., people started fainting in the crowd. When the situation deteriorated further, Mr. Vijay departed from the spot and ambulances began to arrive soon after, taking injured people to government hospitals in Karur, Namakkal, and Tiruchi. By nightfall, dozens were reported dead and scores injured. Many of the 41 people who died were young adults aged 18-30.
What has India done to manage crowds?
At the national level, the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) published its most recent Comprehensive Guidelines on Crowd Control and Mass Gathering Management in June 2025. These guidelines, intended for police and other law enforcement agencies, emphasise scientific crowd management practices. The National Disaster Management Authority has maintained its “Managing crowd at events and venues of mass gathering” guide since 2020 alongside “suggestive frameworks” for crowd management plans. These documents recommend advance risk assessment, detailed site layout plans, predetermined ingress and egress routes, real-time monitoring, and communication protocols. The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has run training modules to handle large congregations as part of its capacity-building programmes.
After the crowd crush at a New Delhi railway station in February, the Indian Railways updated its manuals for around 60 stations with high footfall by introducing holding areas, better dispersal zones and crowd monitoring, among others. These measures are mostly advisory, however, and not statutory.
What measures have States introduced?
Following a deadly stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in June 2025, the Karnataka government tabled the Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025. This instrument covers political rallies, conferences, cultural programmes, and other events, and fixes responsibility on organisers. It also empowers district magistrates to cancel or redirect events, regulate the use of loudspeakers, and impose fines and imprisonment for violations.
The Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority issued the Guidelines for Managing Crowd at Events of Mass Gathering, 2023 — a document that formalises measures for religious and cultural events. The Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management prepared training materials that include technical instructions on calculating site capacity, planning exits, training volunteers, and ensuring first aid and fire safety. After a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar in July, the Uttarakhand government ordered safety arrangements at major temples to be updated and directed authorities to remove encroachments around shrines.
The Maharashtra government introduced a Bill in 2025 empowering the Nasik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority to authorise temporary townships and bypass certain urban planning norms so that facilities can be created for large gatherings.
Local enforcement agencies have supplemented these steps with operating protocols. After the Bengaluru incident, for instance, the Karnataka police circulated a new Standard Operating Procedure to control crowds at public functions and detailed responsibilities for coordination between departments, medical preparedness, and fire safety.
In many districts across States, the police have also directed organisers of large religious or political gatherings to prepare crowd management plans, limit crowd size, deploy medical teams, set up temporary barricades, and divert routes. These orders are still only administrative and aren’t backed by a law. Most State-level initiatives have also been introduced after specific accidents: the Uttarakhand directives followed the Haridwar stampede; Tamil Nadu’s announcement after the Karur rally deaths; Karnataka’s Bill after the stadium incident; and Maharashtra’s Bill after incidents related to the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela.
What is scientific crowd control?
According to prevailing scientific wisdom, safely navigating a crowd depends on controlling its density and sidestepping hazardous flow patterns. Modelling studies have shown that the risk of a deadly crush escalates when crowd density approaches 5 persons per sq. m. Since cameras on drones linked to computers on the ground can continuously monitor crowd density, not using such technologies to manage crowds is seen as a shortcoming.
Second, crowds should never be channelled into bottlenecks, slopes or counter-flows because they magnify pressure and destabilise movement. In a moving crowd, individuals are advised to move diagonally, towards the less dense edges, and to avoid resisting the flow. Because compressive asphyxia rather than trampling is the main cause of fatalities, individuals should keep their forearms across the chest to protect their breathing space and maintain balance with staggered footing. If one is knocked down, rolling to the side and shielding the head and neck while attempting to rise quickly is recommended.
Finally, people should avoid rigid barriers such as fences, walls or stages where pressures against the body can rise dangerously. Stopping to retrieve dropped items or to film in dense flows must be avoided since even brief obstructions can create waves of turbulence.