India, Oct. 6 -- The Maharashtra government has started the process of tracing the existing stock of 'Coldrif', a cough syrup linked with recent children's deaths in Madhya Pradesh, and seizing the medicine wherever it is found in the state, officials aware of the matter told Hindustan Times. The government has also launched a toll free number, 1800 222 365, via which people can report possession of the drug.

"The central government has informed us that Maharashtra may not have any stock of batch number SR-13 of the syrup, which was linked with the recent deaths," FDA commissioner Rahul Narvekar told HT. "Still, we are leaving no stone unturned to confine whatever stock is available in the state."

Coldrif, a cough syrup marketed by Sres...