Death toll by toxic cough syrup rises to 38 in Punjab
This was the third case involving deaths caused by drugs’ reaction in Punjab this year.
LAHORE: Six more people lost their lives after taking adulaterated toxic cough syrup, taking the number of deaths to 36 in Pakistan`s eastern province of Punjab, Dunya News reported on Saturday.
Two persons from Kasur district and four more from Gujranwala died today.
Dozens of the victims from Gujranwala, Toba Tek Singh and Kamonkay have been sickened this week after drinking cough syrup.
The state-run Gujranwala District Headquarters Hospital had admitted 38 people since Wednesday.
It was the second wave of deaths from apparent cough syrup abuse since just over a month ago when up to 19 people died in Lahore.
In spite of the deaths in Lahore being highlighted by the media, the syrup was being sold without prescription at medical stores across Punjab.
After drinking the syrup, the men fell unconscious and were brought to hospital. Doctors referred some of them to Mayo Hospital in Lahore.
Relatives of some of those who died alleged that many medical store owners were selling the “killer” syrup without asking for prescriptions.
