Overview
- A venomous snake entered the girls' hostel in Japtalai and bit six students who were sleeping on the floor, leaving three children dead and three others hospitalised.
- District officials said the bites occurred early Monday and one of the injured girls was later airlifted to Nagpur after her condition turned critical.
- The district collector has ordered a detailed probe to determine how the snake entered the hostel and whether the school followed required safety norms.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed permanent cancellation of the school's licence, suspension of the recent inspector and a third‑party audit of roughly 500 aided ashram schools in the state.
- Reports and officials say the hostel lacked a warden, teachers and adequate beds despite receiving government grants, a shortfall that opposition leaders say exposes wider neglect in tribal residential schools and could prompt stricter oversight and legal action.