Death of Tiruchi nursing student: Central agency inspectors check drug storage facilities at TNMSC warehouse

Inspectors from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSO) have been checking the stocks of medicines at the warehouse of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) in Tiruchi as part of the inquiry into the death of nursing student V. Seethalakshmi in the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) on May 23, 2026.

The CDSO drug checks in Tiruchi began on June 3 and are expected to continue for a few more days, after concerns were flagged about the intravenous administration of Injection Dexamethasone 8 mg (Batch No. CHI-60004) during perioperative management at the MGMGH.

“Though the initial alert was related only to Dexamethasone, the inspectors have decided to include other medicines that are used during surgical procedures, to get a more comprehensive perspective on the issue. They could take several days to complete,” a Health department official told The Hindu on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

Sources said spot checks had been carried out at the drug storage facilities in MGMGH’s Puthur campus.

Three patients, including Seethalakshmi, developed severe cardiovascular complications suspected to be associated with injection of Dexamethasone in MGMGH. The drug is a synthetic corticosteroid used to treat including severe inflammation and allergic reactions.