Maharashtra permanently cancels Gadchiroli ashram school licence after snakebite deaths

Three girls at a school hostel in a small village in India were bitten by a snake while they slept, and sadly they died.

This school was a special boarding school for tribal children, where they live and study.

That night, the children were sleeping on mats on the floor, and no adult guardian called a warden was there to watch over them.

About 50 girls were staying in the hostel, and six of them were bitten.

The leader of Maharashtra, a big state in India, was very upset and ordered that the school's licence be taken away forever.

He said the school got money from the government but still did not have teachers, a warden, or even beds for the children.

Teachers say they had told the principal about the missing beds and were told the beds would come after a festival in September.

Now the government will check more than 500 other tribal schools to make sure they are safe.

The person whose job was to inspect this school will be suspended for not writing down how bad the school was.

This sad event is teaching leaders that regular checks on schools can help protect children.