Taken by one of the big four: Snakebite at Maharashtra tribal school
An eight-year-old girl named Anu Koreti and five other students were bitten by a venomous snake at a tribal residential school in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, during the night of August 9–10. Three of the victims, including Anu, died from the bites. The incident occurred at a private, government-aided Ashram School run by Marotrao Kowase, a veteran Congress leader and former MP. The school's license is set to be canceled, and a third-party audit of all 513 similar tribal schools in the state is being conducted. Residents and families are questioning the lack of basic infrastructure, medical facilities, and emergency services in the remote area, which has seen 99 snakebite deaths in the past five years. The school is located in Gadchiroli, a historically underdeveloped region with high forest cover and a dispersed tribal population.
Three tribal girls died from snakebites at a residential school in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, during the night of August 9-10, 2026. The incident occurred at the Ashram School in Japtalai village, located approximately 10 kilometers from Dhanora taluka. According to reports, six girls were bitten by a venomous snake while sleeping on the hostel floor due to a severe lack of beds. Three of them succumbed to their injuries, including eight-year-old Anu Koreti, whose final moments were marked by excitement following a cultural celebration held at the school earlier that day. The tragedy unfolded amid growing concerns over inadequate infrastructure and healthcare access in one of Maharashtra's most remote districts. The hostel, which houses over 100 girls from classes 1 through 10, lacks essential facilities such as proper bedding, emergency medical equipment, and reliable transportation. Instead of beds, students slept on mattresses, leaving them vulnerable to intrusion by snakes. The only bed available belonged to the cook, a contractual employee who was present in the dormitory that night. The school, run by Marotrao Kowase, a veteran Congress leader and former Member of Parliament, faces scrutiny following the deaths. Separate First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against him and others under multiple bailable sections. The Maharashtra government announced plans to cancel the school’s license and conduct an independent audit of all 513 private, aided residential tribal schools in the state. Tribal Affairs Minister Ashok Uike confirmed these actions during a press briefing. Residents and local officials expressed frustration over the lack of basic amenities and the absence of adequate medical care in the region. The incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of neglect in Gadchiroli, a district with dense forests and a high incidence of snakebites. Over the past five years, 99 people have died from snakebites in the area, according to local data. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Maharashtra government on August 14, 2026, demanding a detailed report on the incident and the conditions at the hostel. The commission highlighted concerns about the violation of students' rights and the failure to provide fundamental facilities. The school’s management faced additional challenges as the woman supervisor, who was supposed to oversee the dormitory, was absent without permission. Her whereabouts remain unclear, and an FIR has been filed against her for negligence. The cook, Tanabai Sanku Durve, who filled in for the missing supervisor, stated that the lack of mosquito nets, despite previous complaints, may have allowed the snake to enter the dormitory. These nets, which were recently installed, were not in place during the incident. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded swiftly, ordering the permanent cancellation of the school’s license. The government also directed authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the remaining students, some of whom are still receiving treatment in hospitals. One girl was airlifted to Nagpur, where she is recovering at home, while another remains in critical condition on a ventilator in Gadchiroli. A third student is making progress toward recovery. The incident has sparked calls for systemic reforms in tribal education and healthcare infrastructure. Parents and teachers emphasized the need for improved road networks, accessible medical services, and stricter oversight of private educational institutions serving marginalized communities. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on addressing the underlying issues that contributed to the tragedy, ensuring that such preventable deaths do not occur again. The NHRC’s directive requires the Maharashtra government to submit a comprehensive report within two weeks, detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident and outlining steps to prevent similar occurrences. Meanwhile, the community awaits further developments as the legal and administrative processes continue.
4 reports
The HinduIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 929 days ago
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India has issued a notice to the Maharashtra government following the deaths of three tribal girls due to snakebites at a residential school hostel in Gadchiroli district. The incident occurred when a snake bit six students who were sleeping on the floor due to a reported shortage of beds. Three survivors are receiving medical treatment. In response, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the permanent cancellation of the school’s license. The NHRC highlighted concerns over the violation of students' human rights and inadequate infrastructure at the hostel, which has operated for approximately 25 years. The commission requested a detailed report from the state government within two weeks, including updates on the health of the affected students.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the incident and the subsequent actions taken by the NHRC and the Maharashtra government. It does not exhibit clear bias toward any political side, focusing instead on the sequence of events and the responses from relevant authorities. The language remains客观
Why factuality (95): This article confirms the core facts of the incident: three tribal girls died from snakebites at a residential school in Gadchiroli, the NHRC issued a notice, and the CM ordered the cancellation of the school's license. It also adds important contextual information like the NHRC's role and the age o
Why objectivity (92): The article maintains an objective tone throughout, presenting the facts without overt bias. It reports on the actions taken by the NHRC and the government without editorializing or showing favor toward any party involved. The language is formal and neutral, focusing on the procedural responses to t
The HinduIndependentCenterFactual 93Objective 908 days ago
An eight-year-old girl named Anu Koreti and five other students were bitten by a venomous snake at a tribal residential school in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, during the night of August 9–10. Three of the victims, including Anu, died from the bites. The incident occurred at a private, government-aided Ashram School run by Marotrao Kowase, a veteran Congress leader and former MP. The school's license is set to be canceled, and a third-party audit of all 513 similar tribal schools in the state is being conducted. Residents and families are questioning the lack of basic infrastructure, medical facilities, and emergency services in the remote area, which has seen 99 snakebite deaths in the past five years. The school is located in Gadchiroli, a historically underdeveloped region with high forest cover and a dispersed tribal population.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the incident, quoting affected families, citing government actions (license cancellation, audit), and referencing regional challenges like infrastructure and healthcare access. There is no overtly biased language, and both the victims' plight and the broader
Why factuality (93): The article provides specific details about Anu Koreti, the incident date, the location (Dhanora, Gadchiroli district), the number of victims (three deaths, three survivors), and mentions the involvement of the Chief Minister. These facts align with the second article and form a coherent account of
Why objectivity (90): The article presents the event in a largely neutral manner, focusing on the tragedy and the context of the region. Emotional language is used sparingly, such as describing Anu's excitement before the incident, but overall the tone remains objective and focused on reporting the facts.
The Indian ExpressIndependentProgressiveFactual 75Objective 6812 days ago
The article reports on a tragic incident at a tribal school in Gadchiroli, India, where three students died from snakebites due to inadequate facilities. The lack of basic amenities such as beds has been highlighted as a contributing factor to the disaster. The incident has sparked concerns about the safety and conditions in remote educational institutions serving marginalized communities. Local authorities and health officials are under scrutiny for their response to the crisis.
Bias read (Progressive): The article emphasizes systemic neglect and poor infrastructure in tribal schools, which aligns with left-leaning critiques of governmental failure to provide adequate resources to disadvantaged regions. While the focus is on the tragedy itself, the framing suggests a broader critique of policy and衙
Why factuality (75): This article corroborates the report of three student deaths due to snakebites at a tribal school in Gadchiroli. It matches the location and general timeline described in the NDTV article. Again, without a primary source, the factuality is based on cross-source consistency, though specific details s
Why objectivity (68): While this article presents the facts in a straightforward manner, it uses emotionally charged language such as 'night of horror,' which may influence reader perception. There is little attempt to provide broader context or discuss systemic issues related to healthcare or infrastructure in tribal sc
NDTVParty-alignedCenterFactual 75Objective 6512 days ago
In Japtalai village, located approximately 10 kilometers from Dhanora taluka in Maharashtra, an incident occurred around midnight on Sunday involving six girls who were bitten by a venomous snake while sleeping on the hostel floor. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of three students, prompting authorities to revoke the school's license. This event has raised concerns regarding safety measures and conditions within tribal schools.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a tragic incident involving student fatalities due to a snakebite at a tribal school, leading to the revocation of the school's license. There is no evident framing that leans towards either side of the political spectrum; the focus is primarily on the incident itself and its'
Why factuality (75): The article reports that three students died due to snakebites at a tribal school in Maharashtra. It mentions the incident occurred at a hostel in Japtalai village, approximately 10 km from Dhanora taluka. While no primary source is available, the details align with similar reports from other source
Why objectivity (65): The tone of the article is somewhat dramatic, using phrases like 'night of horror' and emphasizing the tragic outcome. This suggests some level of emotional framing rather than purely factual reporting. The article does not present alternative viewpoints or contextual information about the condition
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