A school in Nepal was destroyed by a powerful flood, but a principal’s quick decision helped save around 900 students from the disaster.
Rajendra Dawadi, principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Bidur, received an urgent warning that floodwaters were approaching on August 26. He immediately ordered students and staff to leave the school and move to higher ground. Teachers helped evacuate the children, while school buses were also stopped from entering the area.
The evacuation was completed in only a few minutes. Soon afterward, floodwaters carrying mud, rocks and debris reached the school and completely destroyed the building. Two staff members are still reported missing.
The floods were linked to a glacial collapse in the Himalayan region and caused widespread destruction across Nepal. At least 69 schools were damaged or destroyed, affecting thousands of students.
Dawadi has been praised for putting his students’ safety first. He has also called for the school to be rebuilt at a safer location.
