New delhi: Authorities in two Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have initiated a probe as eight children died after allegedly consuming contaminated cough syrups supplied by the government, officials said Thursday. While six children died in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district due to kidney failure in the past 15 days, two child deaths have been reported in Rajasthan.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the investigation aims to determine the source and nature of the contamination, as well as to assess the responsibility of the manufacturers and distributors involved. Officials are thoroughly examining the supply chain and testing samples of the cough syrup to identify any harmful substances.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety and regulation of pharmaceutical products distributed by government agencies in India. Authorities have assured the public that necessary measures are being taken to prevent such occurrences in the future, including stricter quality checks and monitoring of medicinal supplies.