Nepal flood: More than 1,500 students saved by head teacher’s immediate decision

Head teacher of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School of Trishuli Valley in Nuwakot district of Nepal Rajendra Dawadi’s rapid steps have saved the lives of 1,643 students when one village after another was being submerged in the devastating flood of Nepal.

Last Wednesday morning Dawadi came to know from a friend’s phone that a terrible current is coming down the hilly river and the surrounding areas are being flooded rapidly. At the beginning he had thought the school building is safe as it is quite high from the river. But after getting the news of the water increasing from a guardian he did not delay any more—immediately ordered to empty the classrooms by ringing the holiday bell.

The teachers also kept running with the panicked students. At one stage everyone took shelter under a bodhi tree. And right then the strong current washed away the entire school building.

Although almost all the students and teacher-staff survived due to this decision of Dawadi, unfortunately two staff lost their lives—one teacher by returning to cook breakfast, and one cleaner by going to close the door and being washed away in the current.

At least 784 people have died so far in this flood in Nepal and about two and a half thousand people are still missing.