Maharashtra: 3 tribal girls die of snakebite in school hostel; administration orders probe

Three tribal girls have died and three others are receiving treatment after a snakebite incident at a residential school hostel in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, officials said on Monday.

The incident took place around midnight on Sunday in the hostel of the aided tribal residential school in Japtalai village, located about 10 km from the Dhanora taluka headquarters. The girls were sleeping on the floor when a venomous snake bit them, according to a district administration official.

The deceased have been identified as students aged 8, 12, and 14. The three girls undergoing treatment, aged between 11 and 14, were promptly administered anti-venom and are being closely monitored by medical teams, the official added.

District Collector Avishyant Panda said a detailed inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the circumstances that led to the tragedy. "We will examine whether adequate protective measures were in place at the students' accommodation and whether the school management complied with the required safety rules and precautions," he said in a statement.

Mr. Panda also ordered a thorough inspection of the school's safety arrangements and instructed the district surgeon to ensure no deficiency in treatment and that the affected students receive special care.

Teams from the Tribal Development Department are expected to visit the site to gather information and assess possible lapses. The Collector said that if negligence is found, responsibility will be fixed and action will be taken against those guilty as per rules.

Gadchiroli's co-guardian Minister Ashish Jaiswal expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He said he has directed the administration to provide all necessary medical facilities and support to the students undergoing treatment.

"After the Tribal Development Department team's inquiry report is received, responsibility will be fixed and further action will be taken based on its findings," the Minister said.

Gadchiroli district, largely covered by forests and home to several tribal communities, has numerous residential schools run by the state government and aided institutions. These schools provide accommodation to children from remote hamlets, where access to education is limited. The safety and well-being of students in such hostels are crucial, and incidents of this nature highlight the need for stringent safety protocols.

The district administration has assured that the inquiry will be conducted expeditiously and all necessary measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.