18 August,2026 04:33 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
The doctors had performed brain surgery a few days ago in an effort to treat her condition. Representational Pic/File
A 14-year-old girl who was among six students bitten by a snake at a residential school for tribal children in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district remains in critical condition despite undergoing brain surgery, an official said on Tuesday, reported the PTI.
The incident took place last week at an ashram school in Japtalai village in Dhanora tehsil. Three girls died following the snakebite, while three other students were hospitalised for treatment.
Samruddhi Netam was initially admitted to the District General Hospital in Gadchiroli. Her condition later deteriorated, prompting authorities to transfer her to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur, as per the PTI.
Samruddhi was shifted to GMCH Nagpur on August 15 in a specially equipped ambulance after her health condition worsened.
GMCH Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande said doctors suspected that the snake venom, along with other complications, had resulted in significant damage to the girl's brain, the news agency reported.
According to the PTI, doctors performed brain surgery a few days ago in an effort to treat her condition. However, the 14-year-old remains on a ventilator and continues to receive intensive treatment in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Dr Gawande said she is currently being kept on life support and remains in a critical condition.
The girl continues to be closely monitored by doctors at GMCH as medical teams provide intensive care. Her condition remains critical, the medical superintendent added.
Three tribal girls died, and as many others were undergoing treatment after a venomous snake bit had them at a residential school in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli.
As per PTI, the incident occurred around midnight on Sunday, August 10, in the hostel of the aided tribal residential school, located in Japtalai village, about 10 km from Dhanora taluka headquarters, a district administration official said.
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, according to the PTI.
District Collector Avishyant Panda had earlier 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 PTI inputs)
