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

Dhading, Nepal was severely impacted by the catastrophic floods that occurred on Wednesday. Among the areas hit hardest, a school named Shree Bagheswori Madhyamik School in Galchhi district managed to preserve the lives of some students due to an unexpected lunch break. Other students at the school also evaded danger as their teachers swiftly directed them to evacuate their class rooms just prior to the floodwaters pouring in.

Lakshmi Shrestha, a mother of one of the school's pupils, revealed that she was informed by the teachers that a flood was imminent and that they should leave behind their belongings, such as bags and tiffins, in order to save themselves. The aftermath of the incident was evident the following day when mothers and children ventured back to the school to retrieve their belongings and assess any salvageable items.

The school premises bore the consequences of the devastating flood, with floors, benches, and walls coated with dark brown and gray mud, while the courtyard was submerged in sediment. The water levels were marked on the walls, revealing the rapid rise of the floodwaters. Some students were fortunate enough to locate their mud-caked backpacks amongst the debris, while others were not as lucky.

Despite the loss, the majority of the students were reported to have survived the disaster. Save the Children stated that at least 69 schools in Nepal's flood-stricken regions were either destroyed or damaged, threatening the education of approximately 19,000 children. The situation is likely to worsen as more areas become accessible to rescue teams.

The government had previously ordered schools and universities to close for a three-day period following the torrential rains that triggered severe flash floods and landslides across the nation. University exams were also suspended. The death toll rose to 788, with 2,502 people missing, according to Nepal's disaster agency. Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing on the Chinese side of the border, including over a hundred foreigners from various countries who were present in the region for various purposes.