India, Oct. 6 -- The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday sent a notice to the pharmaceutical company Sresan, asking why its drug licence should not be cancelled after 14 children in Madhya Pradesh died from consuming a 'toxic' cough syrup. The governments of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have banned the sale of Coldrif cough syrup after tests revealed it contained a highly poisonous substance.

The Health Ministry has confirmed that Coldrif cough syrup contained diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical commonly used in industrial solvents. Even small amounts of DEG can be deadly.

Last week, the Centre also issued an advisory asking doctors not to prescribe cough and cold syrups to children below two years of age.

The Chennai...