Three girls, all students at a residential school in Gadchiroli, died after being bitten by a snake that is suspected to have entered their hostel early on Monday (August 10, 2026).

Three students are undergoing treatment, of whom one was airlifted to Nagpur. They were administered anti-venom medicines and medical teams were closely monitoring their condition, said Gadchiroli District Collector Avishyant Panda.

The snake, a krait, is suspected to have entered the hostel of the Japatlai Residential Ashram School in Dhanora taluka, Gadchiroli, police said. The girls were sleeping on the floor when the snake bit them.

The girls were admitted to the rural hospital in Dhanora from where they were shifted to the district general hospital in Gadchiroli for further treatment. One girl was airlifted to GMC Hospital, Nagpur, in a critical condition.

Mr. Panda said the government-aided private school run by an NGO did not follow norms. “The residential school did not follow the norms and left the window open at night without a net, allowing the snake to enter. Action will be taken against the concerned as per law,” he said.

“Showcause notices are being issued. There is an element of negligence,” he said.