India, Oct. 1 -- A generic cough syrup manufactured by a pharmaceutical company for the Rajasthan government has led to the deaths of two children and at least 10 others falling ill in the state over the past two weeks, media reports said.

A doctor who took a dose of the syrup to demonstrate that it was safe was also knocked unconscious and was found in his car eight hours later.

Nitish, 5, from Sikar district in Rajasthan, developed a cough and cold and was taken by his parents to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Chirana on Sunday.

The doctor prescribed the cough syrup, which the centre provided, and Nitish's mother gave it to him around 11:30 that night.

Nitish woke up once at 3 am and hiccuped, after which his mother gave him s...