{
  "id": 4557138,
  "title": "'We lose a day, or we lose our lives': Teacher saves 900 pupils from Nepal floods",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/we-lose-a-day-or-we-lose-our-lives-teacher-saves-900-pupils-from",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T02:47:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1522559/we-lose-day-or-we-lose-our-lives-teacher-saves-900-pupils-nepal-floods"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KATHMANDU: A teacher's instinct and bravery helped save over 900 pupils at a school in Nepal, according to reports from German news agency dpa. Rajendra Dawadi, headteacher of Tribhuvan Trishuli secondary school in Nuwakot district, decided to evacuate the school just minutes before a devastating flood struck. As the floodwaters rose, Dawadi explained that he weighed the consequences of losing a day of studies against the certainty that everyone would perish if they stayed. With pupils fleeing in a hurry, a girl fainted and was taken to the hospital by motorcycle. Dawadi also managed to divert school buses carrying hundreds more students. He emphasized that if they had delayed their evacuation by even 10 minutes, they would not be speaking to reporters today. The Trishuli River, where the school was located, was overwhelmed by a massive flood wave following a glacier collapse in Tibet. The disaster has resulted in over 800 deaths across Nepal and China, decimating entire communities and causing significant economic losses. More than 3,000 people remain missing, including a large number of foreigners. One rescued student, 16-year-old Yunisha, recounted how she sprinted to safety just seconds before the flood engulfed her village, destroying everything in its path. Dawadi confirmed that the school building itself was severely damaged, and at least one staff member lost their life in the flood.",
  "summary": "KATHMANDU: In a moment of instinct and courage, a teacher in Nepal is believed to have saved the lives of at least 900 pupils by ordering an immediate evacuation, minutes before catastrophic flood waves engulfed his school, reported German news agency dpa.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Saved by a lunch break: Nepal floods destroyed many schools, but students at this school survived",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/saved-by-a-lunch-break-nepal-floods-destroyed-many-schools-but",
        "published": "2026-08-30T14:55:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Saved by a lunch break: Nepal floods destroyed many schools, but students at this school survived",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/saved-by-a-lunch-break-nepal-floods-destroyed-many-schools-but-4452791",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:23:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Nepal floods: Stranger ran past school screaming ‘Run, water’. It saved 370 kids, teachers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/nepal-floods-stranger-ran-past-school-screaming-run-water-it-saved",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:27:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/head-teacher-evacuated-900-children-minutes-before-nepal-floods-hit",
        "published": "2026-08-30T16:48:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/head-teacher-evacuated-900-children-minutes-before-nepal-floods-hit-4490511",
        "published": "2026-08-30T19:31:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Before Nepal floods, China was asked for early warnings as risks mounted",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/before-nepal-floods-china-was-asked-for-early-warnings-as-risks",
        "published": "2026-08-30T22:50:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Girl rescued from rubble after Nepal floods",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/girl-rescued-from-rubble-after-nepal-floods",
        "published": "2026-08-30T22:57:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Girl rescued from rubble after Nepal floods",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/girl-rescued-from-rubble-after-nepal-floods-4518547",
        "published": "2026-08-30T22:57:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Families of pilgrims likely caught in floods are desperate for news from Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/families-of-pilgrims-likely-caught-in-floods-are-desperate-for-news",
        "published": "2026-08-30T23:32:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Nepal floods: Aerial views reveal massive destruction in Nuwakot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-floods-aerial-views-reveal-massive-destruction-in-nuwakot",
        "published": "2026-08-31T02:04:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}