Gadchiroli, Aug 14: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Maharashtra Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report within two weeks after three Scheduled Tribe girls died of snakebite in an ashram school hostel in Gadchiroli district, according to a statement citing media reports and inputs from PTI.
NHRC seeks facts, health updates and facility details
The NHRC took suo motu cognisance of news reports about the incident and described it as a "serious issue of human rights violation", directing the state government to provide a comprehensive update. The commission asked for a report containing details of the circumstances of the incident, immediate measures taken, and the present health status of three other students who were injured and are undergoing treatment.
"A serious issue of human rights violation," the NHRC said in its directive to the state government, according to the statement.
Media coverage cited by the NHRC said six girls were bitten by a snake inside their room at the ashram school hostel. While three succumbed to the venom, three others were rushed to a local hospital where they continue to receive medical care, reports added.
Allegations of overcrowding and inadequate facilities
The NHRC statement referred to reports that 79 girl students were accommodated in a single room at the hostel and that students were forced to sleep on the floor due to an acute shortage of cots. The commission noted the hostel has been functional for the last 25 years and said it "lacks basic facilities", citing repeated annual reports of snakebite cases in the district.
- Number of deaths: 3 girls
- Number of students bitten: 6 girls
- Reported occupancy of single room: 79 students
- Hostel functioning period (reported): 25 years
Local context and wider concerns
Gadchiroli is a predominantly tribal district with remote habitations and recurring challenges in delivering healthcare and safe boarding facilities. The NHRC's action highlights broader questions about the safety and infrastructure of residential schools and hostels for Scheduled Tribe students — especially in areas prone to animal encounters and with limited emergency medical access.
The commission's directive requires the state to detail immediate remedial steps taken to prevent recurrence and to explain measures for improving hostel infrastructure, sanitation, bedding and medical readiness. The NHRC has also sought specifics on whether local health facilities and anti-venom stocks were available and utilised in time, and on accountability for alleged lapses.
What authorities must submit
According to the NHRC order reported by PTI, the state government must submit within two weeks:
| Item | Details required |
|---|---|
| Incident chronology | Time, place, medical response and transfer details for the bitten students |
| Facility specifics | Occupancy, number of cots, sanitation, and safety measures at the hostel |
| Health response | Availability and use of anti-venom, local hospital treatment records, current condition of injured students |
| Corrective measures | Steps taken to address overcrowding and prevent similar incidents |
The NHRC has also asked for information on ongoing monitoring and any disciplinary or criminal proceedings, if initiated.
Implications for policy and administration
The incident and the NHRC's action can be expected to prompt scrutiny of ashram hostel management and the state education and tribal welfare departments' oversight mechanisms. Residential schools for tribal children are crucial for access to education, but the safety and basic living conditions of boarders remain a governance priority where infrastructure gaps persist.
Officials in Mumbai and Gadchiroli had not publicly issued detailed comments at the time of the NHRC order, the PTI report said. The NHRC's two-week timeframe means the state must respond promptly and that its reply will likely guide any further inquiry or remedial directives from the central human-rights body.
Given the gravity of the deaths and the systemic issues flagged, the matter may also attract attention from civic groups and human-rights advocates concerned with the welfare of tribal students in residential institutions.
(With inputs from PTI)
