Menstruating Teen Dies After Forced to Sleep in ‘Period Hut’ Over Sanitary Concerns

A 16-year-old Nepali girl died earlier this week after a snake bit her while she was sleeping in a "period hut," The Guardian reported. 

The death of Anita Chand marks the first known instance in four years that a girl died due to chhaupadi, an ancient ritual still practiced in some parts of the world that calls for the banishment of young girls while they’re menstruating. The practice stems from the false belief that women who are menstruating are unclean or unsanitary. 

“We are working to end this practice but still [have] lots to do,” said Bina Bhatta, vice‑chairperson of Pancheshwar rural municipality in the Baitadi district, according to The Guardian.

Chhaupadi has been illegal in Nepal since 2005. Those found guilty of banning a girl to a period hut face a fine and up to three months in prison. 

Period huts are known to be dangerous, particularly for young girls. In addition to the possibility of wildlife like snakes, they face an increased risk of physical assault or even suffocation due to lack of ventilation, as most period huts don't have windows, NPR reported.

The last known case of a death caused by chhaupadi was in 2019, when 21-year-old Parbadi Buda Rawat, also of Nepal, died by suffocation after she lit a fire in her hut to stay warm. Her brother-in-law was arrested in that case.

Since Rawat’s death, organizers working to end the stigma against periods have destroyed thousands of huts, The Guardian reported. 

“After Parwati’s death, we destroyed more than 7,000 period huts in the area,” organizer Pashupati Kunwar said. “People were getting information about menstruation and [the] law.”

Police in Nepal are now investigating Chand’s death. Her parents have said she was not even on her period when she died.