Nepal School Principal Saves 900 Students Before Flash Flood Sweeps Away School

Rajendra Dawadi was inside his classroom when a colleague rushed in with a warning: floodwaters were racing through Nepal’s Trishuli Valley, destroying homes, bridges and entire villages.

Another teacher soon received a warning by phone. Moments later, a parent arrived to take her child home. Although the danger had not yet been fully confirmed, Dawadi, the school principal, knew he had little time to act.

He immediately rang the school bell and ordered students and staff to evacuate the building and move toward higher ground.

“I immediately decided to stop school” and get the children out, Dawadi told The Associated Press.

As he followed the students toward a nearby hill, the floodwaters rose rapidly behind them.

From the safety of the hillside, Dawadi watched helplessly as the school where he had once been a student — and where he had spent years teaching — disappeared beneath a torrent of water, mud, boulders and debris.

Two staff members were unable to escape and remain missing.

A decision that saved hundreds of lives

Dawadi’s quick decision to evacuate the school saved at least 900 students from last week’s devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The floods were unleashed after a glacial collapse in the Himalayas and caused catastrophic destruction across Nepal and Tibet. According to the AP report, more than 950 people were killed, while over 4,400 people remained missing.

As Nepal struggles to recover from the disaster, Dawadi’s actions have emerged as a remarkable example of foresight, courage and decisive leadership.

1,643 students were enrolled at the school

The Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School had 1,643 students. At least 900 students were on campus that morning, while others were still traveling to school.

Dawadi ordered everyone already at the school to evacuate. He also contacted bus drivers and instructed them not to bring additional students to the school.

One bus carrying students had already arrived when Dawadi told the driver to turn around.

The bus crossed a newly constructed bridge. Moments later, the old bridge beside it collapsed.

The incident highlighted how quickly conditions had deteriorated and how Dawadi’s decision to evacuate the school may have prevented an even greater loss of life.

Source: The Associated Press (AP)