Saved by a lunch break: Nepal floods destroyed many schools, but students at this school survived

In the heart of Nepal, where catastrophic floods struck hardest on Wednesday, a group of resilient schoolchildren found a glimmer of hope. These young students stayed safe when they chose to step out of their classroom for lunch, escaping the deluge.

Across the nation, many schools were severely impacted, with 69 schools in particular destroyed or severely damaged. This left nearly 19,000 children vulnerable to the aftermath. The nonprofit Save the Children warned that the education of these children was at risk.

The government responded by shutting down schools and universities for three days following the torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides. University exams had to be postponed as well.

As of now, the death toll from the floods has risen to 788 with 2,502 people still missing. The disaster affected individuals from over a dozen countries, including hundreds from Nepal who were working, visiting, or making a pilgrimage to the region. Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing on their side of the border.

The families of the surviving students are now returning to school to salvage what they can. Mud and debris cover the benches, walls, and notebooks, with sediment filling the school courtyard. Despite the daunting task ahead, the children seem to have survived, offering a glimmer of hope in this tragic situation.