This principal in Nepal evacuated 900 students before flooding swept away their school

In the Trishuli Valley of Nepal's Nuwakot district, school teacher Rajendra Dawadi swiftly evacuated 900 students from his school before a devastating flash flood swept away their building. Dawadi, a teacher at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, learned of the approaching floodwaters through warnings from the school's accountant, another teacher, and a concerned parent.

Despite the uncertainty, Dawadi rang the school bell and instructed his students and staff to flee to higher ground. As he accompanied them to a nearby hill, he watched in horror as the floodwaters consumed his school, which had once been his own classroom where he spent years teaching. Unfortunately, two staff members were unable to escape and are still missing.

The catastrophic flood, triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, claimed over 900 lives across Nepal and China, while more than 4,700 people remain missing. The Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, with a student population of 1,643, had 900 students present that morning. Dawadi quickly alerted bus drivers to only stop at safer locations, and ensured that one bus, already at the school, turned back when he instructed the driver to do so. Moments later, the old bridge beside the newly constructed bridge collapsed.