Gadhiroli: The deaths of three tribal girls after a venomous snakebit six children at a government-aided residential school in Japtalai village have prompted immediate action from the state government, which has permanently cancelled the institution's licence and ordered a wide-ranging audit of similar schools, officials said on Tuesday.
Immediate measures and suspension
The incident occurred around midnight on Sunday at the hostel attached to the school, located about 10 km from Dhanora taluka. According to officials, six girls were bitten while sleeping on the hostel floor; three died — the youngest victim was aged eight — and the other three are undergoing treatment.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the permanent cancellation of the residential school's licence and directed that a government official who recently inspected the institution and submitted a favourable report despite its deficiencies be suspended, officials said. Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike briefed the state cabinet on the incident.
Officials told reporters that the school, which receives government aid, lacked basic facilities, did not have teachers on duty and had no warden present at the time of the incident. The supervisor who is responsible for monthly visits to the Japtalai hostel has been suspended for allegedly failing to record the institution's poor condition in the visit book.
Government response and wider inspection
The chief minister directed the chief secretary to convene a meeting and put in place a comprehensive inspection mechanism for ashram schools across the state, with specific emphasis on remote and interior locations rather than institutions situated along main roads, officials said.
As part of remedial action, the government will commission a third-party audit of around 511 aided tribal residential ('ashram') schools in Maharashtra, the Tribal Development Minister told PTI. The audit aims to assess infrastructure, staffing, safety protocols and adherence to norms for residential institutions for tribal children.
"The school had neither teachers nor a warden and lacked basic facilities despite receiving government grants," a statement from the chief minister's office said, according to officials.
Local management and political links
The residential school is reported to be run by former Congress minister Marotrao Kowase. Officials said the institution had received government grants but allegedly failed to maintain minimum standards of safety and supervision. The chief minister has directed that inspections must not be confined to accessible locations alone.
What officials have said about the incident
- About 50 girls were reported to be sleeping on the hostel floor when the snake entered, the Tribal Development Minister said.
- The suspended supervisor was assigned to make monthly visits and to record observations in a visit book; that record reportedly did not flag the school's poor condition.
- The government will ensure inspections extend to schools in remote, interior areas.
Accountability, safety and next steps
Officials said a detailed investigation will follow to determine lapses in administration and the chain of accountability. The suspension of the inspector and the cancellation of the licence are immediate administrative steps; the third-party audit is expected to produce a wider set of recommendations on staffing, infrastructure, emergency response and safety protocols for residential tribal schools.
Families of the victims and local residents have not been quoted directly in official releases; the government has emphasised that the priority is immediate medical care for survivors and swift action to prevent repeat tragedies in other institutions.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Location | Japtalai village, about 10 km from Dhanora taluka, Gadhiroli |
| Victims | 6 bitten; 3 died (youngest aged 8); 3 under treatment |
| Immediate government actions | Permanent licence cancellation; suspension of inspector and supervisor; third-party audit of ~511 schools |
| Management | School run by former minister Marotrao Kowase (government-aided) |
The episode has drawn criticism from opposition parties and raised questions about monitoring of aided institutions in tribal areas. The state has been asked to ensure that inspection regimes are strengthened, that residential schools maintain basic safety standards, and that staff and wardens are in place and accountable.
Further details of the investigation and the audit timetable were not immediately available; officials said they will present findings to the cabinet and set out corrective measures after the third-party review is completed.
Reporting from Gadhiroli.
