India, Oct. 10 -- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Association (FDA) on Thursday ordered the shutdown of medical sales of 88 vendors and issued show-cause notices to 107 others for selling cough syrups without a prescription, in violation of the association's earlier advisory against the practice.

In light of the recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to contaminated cough syrups, the Maharashtra FDA on Tuesday launched a state-wide inspection drive to collect random samples of cough syrups from vendors and dispensaries in the state and check for contamination.

"Every cough syrup sold in the state is being inspected and samples are being drawn. Once test results are received, strict action will be taken against manufacture...