In a heart-stopping moment during the Nepal floods, headteacher Rajendra Dawadi evacuated 900 students just 10 minutes before massive floodwaters engulfed the school.
In the midst of the catastrophic flooding in Nepal's Nuwakot district, a local educator has emerged as a hero. Rajendra Dawadi, the headteacher of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, successfully evacuated 900 pupils just ten minutes before the torrents of water decimated the campus. Dawadi reported receiving four urgent calls within minutes, signaling the imminent arrival of the flood.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Dawadi bypassed standard protocols to prioritize immediate safety. He ordered students to flee toward higher ground and commanded school buses to turn back immediately to ferry children away from the danger zone. "If we hadn't made a quick decision, if it was 10 minutes later, we all wouldn't be able to speak to you today," Dawadi stated.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that in regions prone to flash floods, the gap between survival and tragedy is often measured in seconds. This incident highlights the critical need for localized, rapid-response warning systems. While official alerts are vital, the intuition and decisive leadership of community figures like Dawadi serve as the final line of defense during climate-driven disasters.
"Decisive action in the face of uncertainty is the difference between a tragedy and a miracle."
The intensity of the flood was captured by the harrowing testimony of 16-year-old student Yunisha Amatya. She recounted how she and her friends escaped via a narrow ladder at the back of the school, reaching safety with mere seconds to spare. As they scrambled uphill, they watched in horror as the local bazaar and the school's hostel—located just 100 meters from the river—were swallowed by mud and debris.
The scale of the disaster is immense. Beyond the school, the floods have left at least 2,426 people missing and have claimed hundreds of lives. Many survivors, including the headteacher and several students, remained stranded on hillsides for two nights before being rescued via airlift due to severed road networks and disrupted transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How did the headteacher know the flood was coming?
He received four separate warning calls from different individuals within a matter of minutes.
2. What happened to the school building?
The school building and a nearby hostel were buried under massive amounts of mud and debris as the waters surged.
