- 5 hours ago
The top focus of this episode of 5 Live is on the nationwide health scare following the deaths of at least 14 children in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly linked to Coldrif cough syrup containing the lethal industrial solvent diethylene glycol.
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00:00Hi there, I'm Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor, this is 5 Live.
00:04Every day at 5 o'clock we bring you the top stories of the day,
00:07but we also make it health o'clock.
00:10Every day we bring you stories that matter to you and your loved ones,
00:14the best and the latest knowledge, the most verified news on health.
00:19And what do I have here in front of me today?
00:22Cough syrups of course.
00:23It's now a topic of discussion in every household,
00:27on every phone call, on every WhatsApp group.
00:30So today on the program we'll tell you what to buy, what not to buy.
00:35And importantly, not just look at brands, how to check the ingredients.
00:40Your no panic cough syrup checklist is what we'll decode on the program today.
00:46Let's get started and first bring you all the other top stories of the day.
00:49First up, let's take you through the big story of the day coming in from Israel.
01:00Two years since Hamas' October 7th attack.
01:03And now, Israelis have gathered the hostages at the hostages square in Tel Aviv,
01:09awaiting the return of hostages.
01:11This, there is a chance of a deal that will bring the war to an end,
01:16but it is not certain that it will be seized by Hamas and Israel.
01:23BJP is big appeasement politics, a charge at TMC after attack on BJP MP.
01:29BJP says particular community is carrying out its hooliganism under the protection of the TMC.
01:35BJP has now staged protest in Delhi and Bengal.
01:41Bihar NDA turmoil over seat sharing.
01:45Chirag Paswan now plays hardball with BJP.
01:48The BJP open for alliance with Prachant Kishore.
01:52If respectable seats, they say, demand not met.
01:59CGI attack.
02:00Shoe hurled in Supreme Court.
02:02Prime Minister Modi says attack angered every Indian.
02:05Lawyer who tried to attack CGI brazen it out.
02:08He defends his bid to throw the shoe at the CGI,
02:12claiming that the CGI had mocked Sanatana Dharma.
02:16Sayers won't tolerate insult on Sanatana Dharma.
02:21Anamalai versus Kamal Hassan over Stampede Probe.
02:25BJP has mocked Kamal Hassan's clean shit to Stalin.
02:28BJP says Kamal sold soul to Rajasabha's seat.
02:32Kamal also now came out to say that Stalin acted respectfully.
02:36Talks of a power tussle now in Karnataka's Congress government has resurfaced.
02:45Chief Minister Siddharam Raya's financial advisor there says he believes Siddharam Raya will complete his five-year term
02:54while also hinting at his own aspirations to the top post.
02:58Big sex abuse scandal meanwhile is unfolding in Sandalwood.
03:04Filmmaker Hemant has been arrested on charges of sexually harassing an actress under the pretext of offering her a film role.
03:13Relentless rain has turned North Bengal's hills into zones of devastation.
03:22In Mirik, the community centres have become lifelines, housing infants, women, entire families who've been displaced by the deadly landslides and sluts.
03:35Meanwhile in the national capital, green crackers for Delhi, this Diwali, well that's the question.
03:42But the Delhi Chief Minister has batted for green crackers at the top court saying we respect Hindu religious beliefs.
03:49But do we even understand what these green crackers are?
03:51And then finally, Kantara Frenzy has gripped India from folk roots to box office titan, actor and director Rishabh Shetty.
04:02They have an exclusive on India Today, you can log on to our website.
04:04See that movie.
04:21The cough syrup story, which we have been tracking from day one right here on 5 Live and right here at India Today as well.
04:31When parents give children their cough syrup, they don't expect death, right?
04:36They expect safety.
04:37But in Madhya Pradesh, at least 14 children have died.
04:40We are saying at least because the number keeps getting revised every day.
04:44All of these 14 children, after taking cold rift syrup, sparkling sort of tears across the country, investigations reveal some serious failures at a farmer plant in Tamil Nadu with over 350 lapses, including poor hygiene and also inadequate staff.
05:05What has a drug controller done meanwhile?
05:06The drugs control department has now issued a show cause notice to the company, seeking details on their products and procedures.
05:15This only after, like we said, over a dozen kids have died.
05:19We have constantly asked questions.
05:21Finally, some questions have been asked.
05:23Similarly, two companies in Gujarat have been banned after failing safety tests.
05:29The incident, of course, has prompted a nationwide alert.
05:32With multiple states banning the use of this syrup.
05:35But remember, it's just this one brand that's getting banned.
05:39What about similar formulations available under different brand names by different companies as well?
05:45What about that?
05:47Still no answers there from the center.
05:49Madhya Pradesh has set up a special investigation team and taken action against officials.
05:54But the danger remains.
05:56Several children are still in hospital.
05:59And we are tracking this story as it unfolds on the ground.
06:04Here's the latest on what's unfolding, what the India Today investigation tells you about these companies and the formulations behind these killer syrups.
06:14From contaminated ingredients to unchecked suppliers, a trail of negligence turned a common medicine into a lethal poison.
06:29At least 14 children have died in Madhya Pradesh after consuming cold drift cough syrup.
06:37What connects a Tamil Nadu-based pharma company to the deaths in Madhya Pradesh is a claim of failures that together led to a medical tragedy.
06:45The government inspection found over 350 lapses at the Kanchipuram-based plant of Srisan Pharmaceuticals.
06:53The plant was found lacking basic facilities, qualified staff and proper procedures to ensure product safety.
07:02India Today's ground investigation exposes the shocking lapses and unhygienic conditions at the pharma plant.
07:08We're reporting from the backside of the killer plant to just give you a glimpse of where the waste gets dumped.
07:16This is one of the containers where it's clearly written here, the waste tablets container.
07:22It's just openly dumped here.
07:24In fact, there are also fillers over here, the drip which is used to drip the cough syrup.
07:29It's just openly placed over here.
07:31Of course, these are all waste.
07:33But just imagine the amount of chemical emanation from this particular spot.
07:37The Tamil Nadu drugs control department has issued a show-cause notice to Srisan Pharmaceuticals,
07:46directing the company to furnish key details within five days,
07:49including total quantity of drug manufactured, invoices and analysis certificates of raw materials,
07:56details of packing materials and the master formula of the drug.
08:00Two Gujarat-based pharmaceutical companies, Shape Pharma and Redonex Pharma,
08:08have also been banned after their samples failed to meet safety demands during inspections.
08:14The deaths in Chindwara have triggered a nationwide alert.
08:18Apart from Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have also banned the sale and use of cold-drift syrup.
08:25Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered an SIT probe into the case.
08:32The state's drug controller has been transferred, while two drug inspectors have been suspended.
08:38But the health threat of the common cough syrup continues to mount.
08:42At least seven children from Chindwara and two from Betul are currently admitted in Nagpur.
08:47Bureau Report, India Today.
08:52All right.
08:54Anika Keshav now joins us live from Tamil Nadu as well, from one of those sites over there.
08:59Anika, you've been to a couple of these factory setups.
09:02I see you are actually outside Shrisan Pharma as we speak.
09:06Talk to us a little bit about this property, about this manufacturing unit, any red flags that you see.
09:13And importantly, we keep highlighting cold-drift as if it's the only one that's responsible.
09:21The fact remains that the same composition of DEH, etc. is available under different brand names by different pharmaceutical companies, even as we speak.
09:32In fact, it's this notorious industrial solvent called diethylene glycol that's directly been linked to the lethal fatalities that we are talking about.
09:46In fact, the chemical which was supposed to be used is propylene glycol, which is safe.
09:51But what we're hearing is that diethylene glycol, which is a very lethal substance that's used in paints and brake fluids.
09:58This particular industrial solvent was mixed up with cold-drift, which has caused fatalities is what we're hearing.
10:04In fact, even in the show cause notice that was issued by the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Board, you can see how they have sought details about this particular drug.
10:13In fact, they have sought invoices of propylene glycol to make sure if indeed propylene glycol was purchased or not, just to ensure that which industrial solvent was used.
10:24If it was propylene glycol, then it would have been safe.
10:28But since it was diethylene glycol, a very toxic lethal chemical that was mixed in with the cold-drift syrup, that has caused to the death of so many children is what we're hearing.
10:39And that's why there is a show cause notice that has been stuck.
10:41And the time that's given is within five days from the date of receipt.
10:46Sreesan Pharmaceuticals is answerable to Tamil Nadu's Drug Control Unit.
10:50And it has to furnish the following details sought.
10:53In fact, I'm just giving you a sneak peek, my camera person Daniel, inside what's there inside this factory.
10:59You can see white-coloured tins that's placed inside.
11:02Very questionable conditions, in fact, the kind of hygiene that we are talking about.
11:06One can never say that this is where a medicine is manufactured.
11:10That's the kind of recklessness and unhygienic conditions that we are talking about.
11:15There are white tins, blue tins that's placed containers for storing chemicals.
11:19But really the conditions of this particular plant, this killer plant that manufactures the killer cough syrup, very, very questionable.
11:27In fact, even behind me, you can see how poorly maintained this whole region is.
11:31What we are hearing that in this place where I'm standing right now is this open corridor where the cough syrup containers were being kept outside this open corridors.
11:42And you can see how close it is to this open highway over here, which has resulted in dust gathering, which has further contributed to contamination.
11:51So, every single fact that I'm telling you is mentioned in the report that was highlighted by Tamil Nadu's government that has over 350 lapses regarding the manufacture of cold rift.
12:02They are saying that the syrup containers were kept in the corridors openly, which has further resulted in dust accumulation and further leading to contamination.
12:12Right. Thank you so much for that. The point that she was trying to make is that there is the propylene glycol, which is to be used.
12:25What was used in these drugs is actually a cheaper version that is used for petroleum and paint products.
12:33That cheaper solvent getting in is the reason why we are seeing allegedly all these deaths take place.
12:40But like I said, cold rift, just one of the many, what happens to the rest of them, what even happens with the owners of this one is something that we'll wait and watch for.
12:50But more updates coming in. Let's take a look at that.
12:52So, a new day and a new twist in the cough syrup death story.
13:04This time it's coming in from Rajasthan, where the Rajasthan government has said that all the four deaths are not due to cough syrup, but children have other illnesses.
13:15They were administered cough syrup at home by parents, but it is not the cause of death.
13:23Well, clearly what is then?
13:25Let's try and decode that.
13:27Let's see if we have a reporter very quickly on this story to get you more updates here.
13:33So, what did we know so far on the story that the cough syrups are directly linked to the death of these four kids in Rajasthan, the rest of them in Madhya Pradesh as well.
13:43But now the Rajasthan government, after having banned these drugs, after having suspended officials, after having arrested a doctor, is now saying that cough syrups are not to be blamed.
13:55So, clearly no one killed these kids. It's either the parents who have overdosed, according to the government, or it is a low-hanging officer who can be suspended.
14:07Nobody has gotten into the true cause of what really, you know, led to this crisis.
14:13And that's what's really frustrating about the story, that there are so many unanswered questions still.
14:19But the latest, like we are saying, Rajasthan government has given a clean chit to the cough syrups, saying they were not responsible for the illnesses of the four deaths that we have seen in that state so far.
14:36Really, really shocking indeed that Rajasthan government has said that these are not linked.
14:50So, what was the cause of these suspensions?
14:54Okay, we've got Devankur on the phone line with us, joining us very quickly on this.
14:59So, what is the rationale behind saying that cough syrups are not linked?
15:04I'm just trying to piece together, then why did the suspensions take place?
15:08Why did the arrests take place?
15:10Why was this stock banned from all the Aushadi Kendra if the cough syrup is not to be blamed?
15:16Well, Sonal, it's quite a pertinent question that why were the batches of the cough syrup,
15:22and the company was told not to distribute any further batches of this particular cough syrup,
15:26and why were 19 other drugs of the same company also not allowed to be produced any further by this company?
15:33So, what the government is maintaining right now is that those children who had died had other ailments,
15:40or they were not even given this particular syrup.
15:43So, it is quite clear that it is the parents' version.
15:46The parents who had mentioned that their children had died after they had consumed this particular alleged furious cough syrup,
15:54but the government is maintaining that either those children were suffering from other ailments,
16:00or that they had not been given the cough syrup that was available through the channel of the free medicine scheme of Rajasthan government.
16:08Now, this is quite similar, Sonal.
16:09For example, if you remember, what happened during COVID-19 was that the government used to maintain that those people had comorbidity,
16:17or there were other ailments, whether it was heart ailment, or kidney disease, or liver disease,
16:22and that happened while they were COVID-positive, and so if they died, they could have died because of circumstances other than COVID.
16:29So, it is quite similar to that, and the government is maintaining that even though the parents are claiming that they died
16:35because of being administered that cough syrup, they had other ailments, and they died probably because of that.
16:41Sonal?
16:41It's quite laughable that claim, frankly, made by the Rajasthan government.
16:48How can you make such claims when you clearly have your own, an adult, you know, compounder there who said,
16:56no, no, nothing is wrong with the cough syrup, drank these cough syrup, and fainted instantly.
17:00After instances like these, how can the Rajasthan government say that the deaths have not happened because of cough syrup?
17:07It's absolutely appalling, to say the least, but let's take this cough syrup story a little forward, one step deeper.
17:15Now, I started the show by telling you that there are these four cough syrups that we've got and procured from the market today,
17:21and we'll try and understand what exactly is the cause here, because remember, the biggest question on anybody's mind,
17:28including mine, as a mother, is that, should I give this cough syrup or not?
17:33And how would you know that the next cough syrup that you pick up from the chemist or the one that your doctor has prescribed
17:39is not the one with the banned substance in it?
17:43So we've put together a checklist.
17:45Now, what exactly is this checklist?
17:48This is to cut through the confusion.
17:50We spoke with country's top pediatricians to bring you a no panic list,
17:56a clear, easy-to-follow guideline on which cough syrup to buy, which is safe, and which is not.
18:04It will all start by reading the labels.
18:07So next time, when you go to your chemist and he gives you something like this,
18:12right, what you have to do is look at the ingredient list right over here.
18:19We'll send you, we'll put out a picture of that.
18:21Yeah, see, that's the ingredient list of this particular cough syrup over there.
18:25This is what it has.
18:27It has dextromotorfin, which has been banned.
18:31D-E-M is banned, should not be used, but this was so easily procured by our producers
18:37here in the national capital.
18:40Banned, should not be used, but easily available.
18:43Let's look at the next one.
18:47Let's look at the ingredient list on this one.
18:51Again, without naming the brand, we've got the list out for you.
18:54If you look at them, this seems almost okay.
18:58But remember, like all the doctors, all the best research across the globe will tell you
19:03that no kid below six needs these cough syrups.
19:06So clearly, even if it does not have D-E-M or D-M, you still should not be using it on your kid,
19:12except if your doctor, if your pediatrician is talking about it.
19:17Similarly, we've picked up two more.
19:18However, this also has D-E-M.
19:24Like I said, banned by the government.
19:27There should be a stronger check put on this by the central government, pan-India.
19:33But no, it continues to be sold.
19:36We have managed to procure it right here in the capital.
19:39Look at this one.
19:40It seems to have an Ayurvedic component to it.
19:46Lots of IV leaf and thyme that has been used.
19:50That's the breakup on your screen right there.
19:54But again, remember, not to be given.
19:57Just because it's Ayurvedic does not mean you can give it to your child.
20:01Does not mean the quantity is okay for the child.
20:04Please ask your pediatrician.
20:08But what to look for in case there is a cough syrup, which you've been given to your child regularly and you feel nothing happened, right?
20:16Here's a checklist.
20:18Like I said, we spoke with country's top pediatricians to find out everything from the hidden chemicals to misleading labels.
20:26We'll tell you what to avoid, what to check, and how to stay safe while consuming your cough syrups.
20:35Let's go to point number one.
20:38Look at the manufacturer details.
20:40It must clearly mention the manufacturer's full name, address, and batch number.
20:45Avoid any unverified or sort of obscure brands, especially ones you haven't heard of before.
20:51Search online if unsure.
20:53Or sort of legitimate pharma companies usually have verified presence.
20:57A lot of times you go to your chemist and he says,
20:59This same salt company is getting the same company.
21:02Give it to you.
21:03Don't.
21:04Ask your doctor.
21:05Do the check at your end.
21:07Talking about checks.
21:08One that we often do and should be, again, taken in as a good practice.
21:12Manufacturing an expiry date.
21:14Always check both dates that are clearly printed within the safe range.
21:18Reject bottles that have smudged, overwritten or missing dates.
21:21Number three, and this is perhaps the most important.
21:25Take out your pen and paper.
21:26Note this down.
21:27Look for propylene glycol as a solvent.
21:32If it's there, that's the safe one.
21:34What you have to avoid is the diethylene glycol.
21:38D-E-G as we say.
21:40Or ethylene glycol.
21:42We are not to take cough syrups which have this.
21:45These are industrial chemicals not meant for human use at all.
21:50These are the same chemicals said to be behind the alleged deaths as well.
21:54Also, B-Kaushif is the syrup, does not have any solvent mentioned at all.
22:00If that means it's lacking transparency, that's a massive red flag.
22:04Another very important point that parents end up doing is that they do not see what is an FDC.
22:11What's an FDC?
22:13It's the fixed drug combination.
22:17Very important thing to always avoid.
22:19They are known to be unsafe or irrational in these cases as well.
22:24Very prominent brands like Maxtra drops of syrup, like Scorill drops of syrup, like Timic or Coriminic.
22:32All of these preparations are to be avoided.
22:36Importantly, remember, if your doctor is writing suspensions or is it giving you drops?
22:43It has the same composition but very different dosage that is to be given.
22:48So, very carefully look into what your doctor has given and again, verify and check before you administer that to your kid.
22:56Let's come to point number four.
22:58The drug license number.
23:00Every syrup should carry a DL or manufacturing license number issued by the state drug authority.
23:06No license number means no accountability, do not buy it.
23:09Number five.
23:10The WHO GMP or ISO certification mark.
23:14Prefer products which have the WHO GMP certification or the ISO mark.
23:19This indicates adherence to international manufacturing standards.
23:23But, be very wary of lookalike logos or fake stamps.
23:28How to know it?
23:29You must educate yourself because your chemist will perhaps not tell you.
23:32Number six.
23:33Age and dosage instructions.
23:35Now, check for age-specific dosage, especially for children under 12.
23:40Avoid sit-ups that give a one-size-fit-all dose and says, safe for all ages.
23:46That's clearly not medically sound.
23:48Your doctor will tell you how much to give, how many mLs or how many drops to give, depending on the weight of your child.
23:54That's extremely important.
23:57Number seven.
23:57Storage instructions.
23:59Must specify conditions like store below 25 degrees Celsius or protect from light.
24:04Poor labelling here can hint at low quality control overall.
24:08Number eight.
24:09Source of purchase.
24:11Buy only from registered pharmacies, whether offline or online.
24:16On online these days, we are ordering a lot of medications and we often don't end to, you know, see what brand it is.
24:22But you must avoid any unlabeled bottles or even open packs or refilled containers.
24:29Number nine.
24:30And this, all you techies will love out there.
24:33Often in these new age companies, the safer brands, they have a QR code or a barcode of sorts.
24:40Linking the batch test reports or putting out the authenticity tests as well.
24:45Scan it.
24:46It doesn't work.
24:47It shows that no found, avoid it.
24:50Yeah, just putting it perhaps as a gimmick.
24:53Call them out on it.
24:54Talking about call them out, this is what you and I need to do very importantly.
24:58And that's my last point.
24:59Number 10.
25:00Report any suspicious or any side effect that you are noticing of any particular medication.
25:07All you have to do is go to the CDSO website on suspected adverse drug reaction.
25:14Like how we report Instagram pages or YouTube accounts.
25:18We've all become adapted at that, right?
25:20Why not take that ownership when it comes to our medicines as well?
25:23All right.
25:26With that, that was the checklist over there.
25:28The 10 points that we have picked up from country's best doctors.
25:32Dr. Neelam Mohan, one of them actually, who looked into those reports with us, joins us now.
25:37She is obviously the head at Medanta Guru Gram for pediatrics as well.
25:42Dr. Neelam, I have put out a 10 point checklist for people to know.
25:45But it breaks my heart that you, people like us, have to take ownership, have to educate ourselves.
25:53What is DEM?
25:54What is DM?
25:55What is polythylyl?
25:56All these things which should not be our burden.
25:58It should be the burden of the government.
26:01They should be able to monitor.
26:02They should ensure that these things do not exist on the market.
26:05But yet, today when we went out, two of the four cough syrups that we picked up had the banned chemical.
26:12How troubling is that?
26:15Yeah, so you rightly pointed out, I was truly impressed with the 10 commandments that Sonal Manotra, you came out today on India Today TV.
26:25It was really, really interesting that those 10 commandments have to be followed by all.
26:30So true, we in our busy state, we forget to look into all those things that we need to suggest.
26:36But you rightly said, I think one message I want everybody to get clear is that when we talk about this death, it was not due to the two chemicals, chlorophenylamine, maleate, or phenylaphrine, because CPM of phenylaphrine.
26:52Because these, I agree that we do not use less than two years, I have to be very careful when using four to five years of age.
27:01Having said that, the reason we say for this is because it can give rise to sedation.
27:06And obviously, all fixed risk combination, as you highlighted, they do not do any benefit, rather enhance these side effects or risk.
27:15But what is very important for everyone, if I have to go through one message out of your 10 commandments, the first message would have been that it becomes the responsibility of the regulatory authorities here.
27:30Yes.
27:31Because when me can, I mean, I can prescribe the right medicine at the right dose, and you can go and buy from, you know, a pharmacy.
27:39But who is responsible when you say it is due to contamination in the wildest of dreams, you wouldn't have thought something like dieting glycol, which is supposed to be less than 0.5 percentage, according to WHO, was in a more than 45% in the samples that were tested in Tamil Nadu.
27:59And today, again, we got the report from Bhopa.
28:01It is not only about this company, which we are talking about, the cold rift sample.
28:06And earlier also, in October 22, WHO had released this when in Gambia, 66 people died.
28:14And I remember clearly, it was probably your channel that I came and I spoke about that it is extremely sad that these children died because of an Indian company made in that time.
28:26And subsequently, in Ujavekistan, India.
28:28Which is what brings me to this dilemma that I've had of late and helped me understand that.
28:34You know, often in the Indian context, we have spoken about affordable health care.
28:39And we've said this often a crusade that doctors should not be prescribing brands.
28:45They should be prescribing generics.
28:47Don't write dolo or crocin, write paracetamol, right?
28:51This is, of course, done so that doctors don't have some kind of a hand in glove with the pharma company.
28:56But at the same time, the quality of the generics is such a question mark in this country.
29:03How do you solve that problem?
29:04I haven't been able to wrap my head around it because look at the deaths here.
29:08They didn't happen in Delhi or Mumbai.
29:10Why?
29:11Because here the doctors have a very good practice of giving you the right brand and giving you the right drug.
29:15It happened to the poorest of the poor who have no access to medical health care.
29:19They took it from government, you know, places.
29:21They took it from pharmacies which were not so good, perhaps the only one in their area.
29:27It's happened back of the beyond.
29:28That's just not fair, right?
29:30So how do you draw that line between should you be prescribing generics or should you be giving brand names?
29:35Right.
29:37I totally endorse you in that.
29:39And if it was me, I find it very difficult to understand that I need to write a generic instead of a name.
29:46I mean, I'm very clear when I talk to my patients, it gets like they connect me that this is not available and this is available as you rightly highlighted.
29:54I tell to them that I have never heard of this brand.
29:59There are sometimes brands which you have never heard of and then they are there.
30:03But then you need to understand two things which through your medium, I want to get across to parents is two things.
30:10The most, you know, when you talk about this, maybe the cost at which it is produced and the cost at which it is sold or it's bought by the pharmacy and it is sold.
30:23There is a difference in that.
30:24Maybe that is the reason sometime that instead of selling some product A, they want to sell B by telling you it is the same composition.
30:35But, you know, you're not sure where it is manufactured and where it is sold.
30:40So this today is an eye opener to the entire people that we obviously need to look into quality, very importantly, rather than only looking into the ingredient.
30:54And I think it is the responsibility of us all as citizens of the fourth developed nation in the world to demand something like a standardization where you're able to get accreditation and you're able to get a quality control.
31:13And each batch should be tested for and they should not be hidden under the table when they do not find the product of, you know, being complacent and some product which is not efficient.
31:29Because that is where we cannot lose our ethics because as you rightly highlighted, you're not only playing with it's not about, you know, money and health, but it is about life.
31:43You ended up playing with when you did this poor, those parents who went to give some relief to the cough, never have would have thought that the child would have died.
31:54And I want to also get it across to you that never has chlorphenidamine and the other product phenylaphrine have been reported as kidney failure.
32:07So the very fact that kidney failure has happened, whoever may say anything, the truth is kidney failure can occur only because of diclin glycol, which is converted in a product which damages the kidney tubules and give rise to necrosis.
32:23And it has never been reported for decades in older children that these products have been used.
32:31So to me, it is crystal clear that it is the contamination for them.
32:36And the Rajasthan case, which you were asking your correspondent, I, while he was trying to explain, now, I also want to take this with a pinch of salt.
32:47And I would urge that there should be some autopsy or chemical analysis in the blood because they have said that it is not only the government samples that the patient had taken, but the patient took another sample also.
33:04That is the justification if you read in the paper.
33:07So having said that it is responsible to check the levels and if there is a confidential...
33:15Ma'am, that's a very valid point.
33:16In fact, a reporter went and asked them that why wasn't an autopsy done.
33:20And, you know, the officer there, the DM said, oh, the parents did not ask for it.
33:25The parents do not know that an autopsy is to be done.
33:27They are devastated.
33:28They will not come up with this idea.
33:30It's the job of the government to do it.
33:32And that's why I'm saying it's a systematic failure.
33:35It is sad that we here have to make checklists and check and verify every medicine that we pick up.
33:41It should be the job of the government.
33:42And that's where I'm saying that it should be clear guidelines, pan-India, not just state governments.
33:48Clear guidelines, pan-India should be, you know, made available.
33:52Very clear checks should be happening at every state level as well.
33:55But perhaps this is hoping that there is a wake-up call.
34:02Stringent regulatory oversight and accountability.
34:05These are the two key factors that need to go across to the regulatory authorities.
34:13Right.
34:13Thank you, ma'am, so much for joining us over there and bringing in all that perspective.
34:18If I had to give two or three takeaways for our viewers today, it would be number one, do not give any medication.
34:24Not just cough syrup without consulting with your pediatrician, right?
34:27Number two, do not, if your chemist says, yeh brand available nahi hai, same salt ka doosra hai, kya dee dee?
34:33Say no, let me check with my doctor first.
34:36Number three, be very careful about where the ingredient lists are.
34:40If there are too many, if there are combination drugs, again, something to be suspicious about.
34:45And number four, like we said, do not believe any news that comes out just like that.
34:51Always go back to a verified source like we've been doing right here on India today.
35:01All right, since this is Health O'Clock, let's bring you some positive news of the day.
35:05Something that's really lit up the medical industry.
35:07Recently, the Nobel Prizes were announced.
35:10And the Nobel Prize for Medicine went to three individuals who have truly changed the world of medicine as we know it.
35:19Have you heard of something called T-cells?
35:22Well, if not, then get ready because you'll soon be asking your doctors about the treatment involving these remarkable cells.
35:29Now, imagine a world where you didn't have to rely only on medicines to fight disease.
35:35What if we could train our own bodies to recognize danger, fight it, even heal it, all from the inside?
35:44So no painful chemotherapies, no suppressive drugs, or no side effects.
35:50Just your immune system reprogrammed to fight smarter.
35:55Now, this isn't wishful thinking.
35:57This is science that has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in medicine.
36:02And let's tell you all about that.
36:03Now, what are these T-cells?
36:05Now, look at that very beautiful animation over there.
36:08Inside your body, there is an army of cells called T-cells.
36:13They are your immune system, your frontline soldiers trained to attack infection.
36:18But what scientists recently discovered is a rare type of T-cell called the regulatory T-cell or TREG.
36:25Think of them as peacemakers, all right?
36:28Remember that reference.
36:29They don't attack, they control.
36:31They tell the rest of the immune system when to fight, who to fight, and more importantly, when to stop.
36:41It's this balance, this thermostat-like regulation that protects us from disease and from ourselves as well.
36:47Because when the immune system goes rogue, that's when we get immuno-autoimmune disorders as well, or even chronic inflammation.
36:55Now, this Nobel Peace Prize-winning discovery has reshaped how we understand conditions like type 1 diabetes, like multiple cirrhosis, like even certain types of cancers.
37:06And now, researchers are using this insight to train the immune system to help and help it stop attacking our body, or in case of cancer, to attack only the cancer cells.
37:21Because this isn't just a theory, remember.
37:23This is happening as we speak.
37:25What a time to be alive.
37:26Now, where all is it being used?
37:28Let's talk about India first.
37:29At the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, scientists from the Immuno Act and IIT Mumbai have developed the NEX-CART therapy.
37:39India's first CAR-T cell therapy, as it's being called.
37:42It's being used to treat blood cancers like leukemia, like lymphoma as well.
37:47Not with chemo, but by retraining the patient's own immune system to fight and destroy the cancer cells.
37:55Around the world, countries like United States, UK, Germany, France, Israel, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore have already started offering FDA or the government-approved CART therapies there.
38:07These are being used in hundreds of hospitals and over 200 clinical trials are underway targeting this immuno, the autoimmune diseases as well.
38:15Organ transplant toleration as well as cancer.
38:18So, yes, this is real.
38:20This is the good news of the day.
38:22This is the happy medical news of the day.
38:24And thanks to science, thanks to those three scientists who have just, and very rightly so, won the Nobel Prize in medicine.
38:32We are entering a future where we don't just treat disease.
38:34We train our body to heal itself.
38:37And the possibilities that open up are truly mind-blowing.
38:41From curing cancer to controlling autoimmune diseases, we are witnessing a revolution in medicine.
38:48One that harnesses the incredible power already within us.
38:53Because sometimes, the most powerful medicine, as we always say, even in life, is the one in our own body and what we hold.
39:00Well, the power corridors of the national capital are a buzz with some news.
39:05And this is a former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who's been allotted a new official residence.
39:10Now, every time Arvind Kejriwal moves into a house or is allotted one, clearly there is a lot of debate.
39:15So, let's tell you what this new bungalow is all about.
39:18Bungalow number 95 at the Lodhi Estate is now Arvind Kejriwal's new address.
39:23He's been allotted a spacious type 7 property spread across 5,000 square feet at the Lodhi Estate.
39:30The bungalow has four bedrooms, two lawns, a garage, three sort of staff quarters and a dedicated office space,
39:37which is pretty much in sync with what everybody else gets as well, just to clarify that.
39:42But reports are suggesting that Amati Party had earlier shown interest in Mayawati's bungalow for Delhi Chief Minister,
39:50former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
39:52The party had also argued, in fact, taking the case to court, that the head of a national party,
39:58as the head of the national party, Arvind Kejriwal was eligible for a type 8 bungalow,
40:02which is slightly superior in that manner.
40:05And after the intervention of the Delhi High Court, central agencies eventually identified 95 Lodhi Estates
40:12to be the new residence of the political leader.
40:15Now, while Arvind Kejriwal has got a new house, there is speculation, because remember Shish Mahal?
40:21Now, where the former Delhi Chief Minister used to reside could soon be converted into that house that you see over there,
40:30that Shish Mahal could be a government property very soon.
40:34But like we said, every time there is a house situation with Arvind Kejriwal, it always makes news.
40:38So let's try and find out what this new house is all about.
40:42Joining me is my colleague, Amit Bharadwaj.
40:45Amit, I believe you are at the residence, the soon-to-be residence of Arvind Kejriwal and his family.
40:53Tell us a little bit about what it's like.
40:55And, you know, even this residence, which is pretty much in sync with anybody of his stature should be getting,
41:03that also ran into a controversy.
41:04He had to go to a court and fight for a residence and a house of a particular kind.
41:10But tell us, what is his Mayawati angle here?
41:12Why was he so insisting on getting Mayawati's former bungalow?
41:15Well, Sonal, you are right that this is soon to be the official residence of Arvind Kejriwal.
41:26Just for our viewers' understanding, he is not getting this bungalow, type 7 bungalow,
41:31incapacity as former Chief Minister of Delhi, rather as the national convener of a national party.
41:38So, like the Congress Party or the BJP or for that matter, NCP,
41:43all other national parties or political parties which had the national party status,
41:49their national presidents do get type 8 bungalow if they do not have a similar allotment,
41:55a government bungalow allotment in some other capacity.
41:59For instance, if you are a Chief Minister, if you are an MLA in Delhi, for instance, MP,
42:04in that case, you already have allotment of a bungalow by the CPWD.
42:08But in this case, because Delhi does not have provision for bungalow for its former Chief Ministers,
42:13Arvind Kejriwal's party, Aam Admi party was the one fighting this legal battle for allotment of 95 Lodhi state.
42:20We will get you a visual as well of what that house looks like.
42:24This is, you know, sort of one of normal bungalows of type 7.
42:30Right there, inside is the bigger lawn, on the roadside is a smaller lawn and on the right-hand side is the complex,
42:39residential complex which has four bedrooms, one dining area, one hall, one waiting room.
42:45In total, seven intact structures.
42:48That's why it is type 7, why it's called and then you also have a camp office.
42:52Now, you know, because you are given a certain kind of allotment, type 7 was indicated by the central agencies,
42:59the kind of bungalow that will be allotted to Arvind Kejriwal.
43:02So, you obviously would look for what is preferable for you.
43:06You know, for instance, if we compare this bungalow with the 5 Firodshah Road bungalow,
43:10where Arvind Kejriwal is living as a guest at Ashok Mittal's official residence,
43:14he's the Aam Admi party, Rajya Sabha MP.
43:16That bungalow, despite being a type 7 bungalow, is a smaller one because you have the residential complex
43:24right in the middle of the entire compound which leaves very minimal space, you know, vacant space for other works.
43:31For instance, this house is similar to what Mr. Shashi Tharoor has in the house, adjoining house
43:37and he has several offices in the temporary structures which has been installed as per recommendations
43:43or requests of possibly Mr. Tharoor.
43:46So, you know, the different bungalows have different structures and as a political party chief,
43:52you would want your staff and other office work also to be happening at...
43:57So, Arvind Kejriwal's new neighbor will be Shashi Tharoor.
44:01He was entitled for type 8.
44:04So, Arvind Kejriwal's new neighbor will be Shashi Tharoor.
44:07And we wait to see what renovations will happen this time around.
44:11I'm sure after the defeat, he's careful about what happens this time around.
44:15But I'm told his wife went in and visited the house yesterday and we'll see what happens to that house.
44:20Keep an eye on that story, Amit.
44:21We'll come back to you as and when it unfolds.
44:23All right, moving on to some more news, important ones coming in from North Bengal.
44:30Relentless rain has turned North Bengal's hills into zones of devastation.
44:35In Mirik, community centers have now become lifelines, housing infants, women and entire families displaced by the deadly landslides and floods.
44:45India today went on the ground to bring you these visuals.
44:50A story often not told on prime time, but we've made sure that we bring all of India news to you right here.
45:08Unrelenting rains have left Darjeeling Hills scarred, stunned and submerged.
45:15Several children were among those who were killed and many more were injured after a string of powerful landslides swept through Mirik, Sukhya-Pokhri, Darjeeling and adjoining areas.
45:29The slides flattened homes, snapped road links and stranded hundreds of tourists, marking one of the region's worst natural disasters in a decade.
45:40The Dudya Iron Bridge, which connects the district towns and tourist hotspots of Mirik and Kursyong, has also collapsed.
45:51The weather department has issued a red alert of rain for several districts of the state.
45:58Relief camps have been set up at places most affected by landslides.
46:03At least 52 families are inhibiting in this very area at the moment and one after the other, you can see people from different ages are here in this relief camp.
46:15They have been taken from different areas from the nearby places in Mirik and Mirik Bazaar.
46:21India today visited the site of destruction and devastation, Mirik,
46:46where 52 families are seeking shelter with food and medicines being provided by government and NGOs.
46:55This is a medical desk where regular medicines are made available for people who want to have their regular medicines.
47:04If I can speak to some of them.
47:06Ma'am, how many patients have you seen as of now since the last two days?
47:1047.
47:1147?
47:12Yes.
47:12What kind of medicines are made available?
47:15Sugar or pisar.
47:17Sugar, pisar, paracetamol.
47:19Paracetamol.
47:21Gasterties.
47:25Diarrhea.
47:26Diarrhea, vomiting, fever.
47:29West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee visited Mirik, walking through the flood-hit areas,
47:35meeting families who have suffered losses and assured them that no one will be left without support.
47:41Union Minister Kiran Rijijiju, Bengal's leader of opposition, Suvendu Adhikari,
48:11also visited landslide-hit areas and assured help from the centre.
48:17We are working and from the humanitarian ground, there is no space for politics in this kind of tragic situation.
48:29What is important right now is the immediate relief and resettlement of these affected families.
48:37At dusk, in the dim light, people of Darjeeling wait for skies to clear, for the roads to open, for mountain to forgive.
48:48For now, Darjeeling's hills, usually alive with tourists and tea shops, stand silent,
48:56wrapped in fog and the work of recovery.
49:00As you can see, Suvendu Adhikari here, speaking with common people and trying to take stock of the situation.
49:07Kiran Rijijiju also spoke to the locals and also to the authorities.
49:11So, a priority remains to rehabilitate people and also to help the state government to rebuild these areas.
49:18And he will be going back to Delhi and will be submitting a report to the Home Minister and Prime Minister.
49:23With video journalist Shubhajit Gaiyan, this is Tapu Sengupta for India Today in Mirik.
49:29Alright, and let's leave you today with these visuals coming in from Indian Railways,
49:34which is stepping into the future in a move aimed at modernizing train maintenance.
49:40The Railways has begun testing high-pressure drone cleaning systems for washing train coaches.
49:46Enjoy these visuals. We'll see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
49:53We'll see you tomorrow.
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