Three girl students killed by snake bite at Maharashtra tribal ashram school in Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli, Maharashtra: A tragic incident has been reported from Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, where three girl students were killed after being bitten by a venomous snake that entered their hostel room at night. The incident occurred at a government-aided tribal ashram school in Japtalai, Dhanora taluka.

According to preliminary information, the girls were fast asleep in their dormitory when the snake struck between around 2 am and 2:30 am. Three other students were also bitten in the same incident and are undergoing treatment at hospital, with one of them said to be in critical condition.

Two died in Dhanora, third succumbed in Gadchiroli hospital

Upon discovering the snake bites, staff rushed the affected students to hospital for emergency treatment. Two of the girls died during treatment at Dhanora hospital, while the third succumbed at Gadchiroli District General Hospital.

The deceased students have been identified as Deepika Lakda, a Class 6 student, Sushmita Mandal, a Class 8 student, and Anu Koreti, who died during treatment at the district hospital.

The three injured students undergoing treatment at Gadchiroli District Hospital have been identified as Deepika Madavi (Class 5), Kavita Kiranga (Class 6) and Samriddhi Naitam (Class 8). Samriddhi's condition is reported to remain critical.

Fear grips hostel students, questions raised over safety

The incident has triggered fear among the hundreds of girl students residing at the ashram school, with serious questions now being raised over the safety arrangements at the school premises and hostel at night.

Chief Minister Fadnavis seeks report

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds charge as the guardian minister of Gadchiroli district, expressed grief over the deaths and has sought a detailed report from the concerned officials.

Following news of the deaths, the local administration was thrown into a scramble, with police reaching the spot to gather details of the incident. The state's Tribal Development Minister, Ashok Uike, has also directed officials to visit the site and take stock of the situation, treating the matter with seriousness.

A large number of tribal girl students reside and study at the ashram school, and the incident has raised pointed questions over the adequacy of security arrangements at the hostel and emergency medical facilities in case of such crises. The deaths of three students and injuries to three others have shaken the entire region, with families of the victims expressing deep anguish and grief. A clearer picture of how the snake entered the premises, and what steps were taken to try and save the students, is expected to emerge once the administrative inquiry is complete.