Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school

A headteacher in Nepal heroically evacuated 900 children from Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot just 10 minutes before devastating floods struck. Rajendra Dawadi received multiple warnings about the impending disaster at 09:10 local time (03:25 GMT) and acted swiftly, ordering buses to turn around and directing students to higher ground.

Dawadi emphasized that a 10-minute delay could have resulted in the loss of lives. The floods, which have claimed at least 794 lives and left 2,426 people missing, overwhelmed the school building, burying it under mud and debris. Many students initially underestimated the severity of the situation but managed to climb uphill to safety with the help of their friends.

The principal and Yunisha, a 16-year-old student, were eventually airlifted to safety after two nights of being stranded. Parents desperately tried to reach their children, with Yunisha's mother recounting her frantic attempts to contact her daughter. Yunisha expressed concern for her future studies, fearing she would have to change schools and leave behind her old friends.

Dawadi acknowledged that better warning systems, such as sirens and evacuation alerts, could have led to an even quicker response but credited his immediate action in saving countless lives.