New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports that six tribal girl students were bitten by a snake at an Ashram school hostel in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, leaving three dead.
According to the reports, the students were sleeping on the floor because the hostel lacked adequate cots. Three girls died following the snakebite, while the remaining three were undergoing treatment at a hospital.
The NHRC said that if the reported facts are correct, the incident raises serious concerns over possible violation of human rights. It has issued a notice to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary seeking a detailed report within two weeks, including the health status of the injured students.
Reports said that around 79 girls were accommodated in a single hostel room, which has reportedly been functioning for nearly 25 years without adequate basic facilities.
The Commission has sought details of the circumstances leading to the incident and the measures being taken by the state authorities.
Gadchiroli is also reported to record a significant number of snakebite cases every year, raising further concerns over safety measures at residential educational institutions in the district.
