NHRC notice to Maharashtra after three tribal girls die of snakebite in hostel
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Maharashtra government over the deaths of three tribal girls from snakebite inside their residential school hostel in Gadchiroli district. The commission took suo motu cognisance of the incident, which occurred early on Monday, August 10, 2026.
According to reports, a snake entered the hostel of a tribal residential school and bit six students who were sleeping on the floor. The school reportedly lacked adequate cots, forcing students to sleep on the ground. Three of the girls succumbed to the bites, while the remaining three are undergoing treatment at a hospital. Their current health status is awaited.
The incident has raised serious questions about the safety and basic amenities provided to students in residential schools, particularly those catering to tribal communities. The hostel is said to have been functioning for approximately 25 years, yet such a lapse in infrastructure highlights systemic neglect.
A day after the tragedy, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the permanent cancellation of the school's licence. This decisive action, however, comes too late for the families who have lost their children. The state government has been asked to investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths, including the reported shortage of cots.
The NHRC, in its statement, noted that Gadchiroli district records a significant number of snakebite cases every year. This recurring hazard underscores the need for preventive measures, including better hostel facilities, proper lighting, and prompt medical response. Snakebites are a known public health challenge in rural and tribal belts of India, but they are preventable with adequate precautions.
The commission has directed the Maharashtra Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within two weeks. The report must explain the sequence of events, the availability of basic facilities at the hostel, and the health status of the three surviving students. It must also outline measures being taken to prevent such incidents in other residential schools across the state.
This tragedy brings into focus the broader issue of tribal welfare and the implementation of constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes. Residential schools, such as the one in Gadchiroli, are meant to provide education and a safe environment for children from marginalised communities. The failure to ensure even basic amenities like cots is a violation of their right to a secure upbringing.
The NHRC's intervention is a step towards accountability. However, lasting change will require a comprehensive review of infrastructure and safety protocols in tribal residential schools. The state government must act swiftly to identify and rectify shortcomings, ensuring that no more lives are lost to preventable incidents.
The three girls who lost their lives were pursuing education in the hope of a better future. Their deaths are a stark reminder that equity in education cannot be achieved without addressing the basic needs of students in underserved regions. As the investigation proceeds, the families and communities await justice, while the nation watches how the state responds to this human rights failure.
