Nepal floods: teacher evacuates students before disaster strikes

Consensus Summary

A deadly flash flood struck Nepal’s Trishuli Valley on Wednesday morning, triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, devastating schools and communities. Rajendra Dawadi, the head teacher at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, evacuated about 1,600 students (or 900, as reported by multiple sources) just 10 minutes before the flood hit, saving countless lives. The flood swept away the school building, along with homes and infrastructure in the area, leaving behind thick mud and debris. Students and families later returned on Sunday to salvage belongings from the ruined classrooms, where mud-caked backpacks and damaged notebooks marked the extent of the destruction. The disaster has left at least 69 schools destroyed or damaged, putting the education of nearly 19,000 children at risk, according to aid groups like Save the Children.

The flood was part of a broader catastrophe that has killed at least 794 people in Nepal (or 781, per Guardian) and left more than 2,500 unaccounted for, with additional deaths and missing persons reported in Tibet. The government responded by shutting down schools and universities for three days, pausing exams and urging communities to move to safer areas. The scale of the disaster has been attributed to a glacial collapse, which sent a wall of water and debris cascading downstream, overwhelming towns and villages. Rescue efforts continue, but the full extent of the damage remains unclear as teams reach more affected areas. The flood has also raised concerns about the long-term impact on education, with children potentially losing months of schooling due to destroyed classrooms.

Dawadi’s quick decision to evacuate the school has been hailed as heroic, with students and parents praising his actions. One student, Yunisha, 16, told reporters she and her friends survived by 'just 10 seconds,' emphasizing the narrow margin between life and death. Dawadi received multiple warnings about the approaching flood, including calls from colleagues and a parent who came to take her child home. He described the moment as a matter of seconds, stating that if the evacuation had been delayed by 10 minutes, everyone would have perished. The Guardian and SMH also noted that a hostel building about 100 metres from the river was engulfed by floodwater, underscoring the speed and ferocity of the disaster. Dawadi’s story has become a symbol of courage amid the devastation, with parents embracing him as they thanked him for saving their children.

While the core details of the event are consistent across sources, there are discrepancies in the numbers reported. ABC and Guardian both mention 1,600 students evacuated, but Guardian, 7News, and SMH focus on 900 children saved. Similarly, death tolls vary, with ABC reporting 794 deaths, Guardian reporting 781, and 7News stating over 950 people were killed in Nepal and Tibet combined. The number of missing persons also differs, with ABC and Guardian reporting around 2,500 missing, while 7News states more than 4,400 remain unaccounted for. These inconsistencies highlight the challenges of verifying real-time data in the aftermath of such a catastrophic event. Despite the differences, all sources agree on the severity of the disaster and the critical role Dawadi played in saving lives.

The aftermath of the flood has left communities grappling with loss and uncertainty. Schools remain closed, and it is unclear when classes can resume, as rescue teams continue to assess the damage. Aid groups are working to support affected families, while the Nepalese government has called for a global response to the climate crisis, framing the disaster as a consequence of disproportionate climate change impacts. Dawadi, for his part, has emphasized the need for psychological counseling for students and the urgent rebuilding of schools. His appeal to the government reflects the broader challenges facing Nepal as it recovers from one of its worst natural disasters in recent history. The story of Dawadi’s evacuation serves as a reminder of the human cost of climate-related disasters and the importance of preparedness in saving lives.