14 August,2026 04:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Tribal ashram schools in Maharashtra record 584 student deaths in two years (File pic)
Amid the criticism of the Maharashtra government over the death of three tribal girls due to snakebite at a residential school hostel in Gadchiroli, officials from the state government on Friday said that 584 ashram school students have died in the last two years in the state.
According to PTI, a senior official from the Tribal Development department said that the causes of death range from snakebite, sickle cell, serious illness, accidents, and suicide.
Maharashtra has 500 government-run and 513 aided ashram schools, which are residential facilities for tribal children, the official said.
A senior official from the department, while highlighting the casualties in the last two years, said, "In the past two years, 384 deaths were reported in government ashram schools and 200 in aided schools," as per PTI.
The official said that 170 ashram school students died in 2024-25, while 214 deaths were reported in 2025-26. Of these, 36 died on school premises and 348 at home, he said.
In aided schools, 81 deaths were reported in 2024-25 and 119 in the next financial year. Of these, 30 deaths took place on school premises and 170 at home.
The Congress has alleged that administrative negligence and corruption under the Mahayuti dispensation led to the recent deaths at a residential school hostel in Gadchiroli.
Three tribal girls died, and as many others were undergoing treatment after a venomous snake bit them around midnight on August 9 in the hostel of the aided tribal residential school, located in Japtalai village, about 10 km from Dhanora taluka headquarters.
The official, while briefing about the incident, said that a venomous snake bit the minors while they were sleeping on the floor in the school's hostel. Three of them, aged 8, 12, and 14, died. Three other girls, in the age group of 11 to 14, were receiving treatment for snakebite, as per PTI.
Following the incident, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered the permanent cancellation of the licence of the government-aided residential school.
Moreover, District Collector Avishyant Panda said a detailed inquiry will be conducted to ascertain exactly how the incident occurred, whether adequate protective measures were in place at the students' accommodation, and whether the school management complied with required safety rules and precautions.
(With inputs from PTI)
