Headteacher's Decision Saves Lives in Nepal Disaster

During the deadly flash flood in Nepal, a headteacher acted upon consecutive warnings to evacuate 900 students to higher ground at the last minute, averting a potential catastrophe.

Minutes Before the Flood Disaster

During the disaster in Nepal that left thousands missing, Rajendra Dawadi, the headteacher of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, made the decision to suspend classes. Taking into account warnings from settlements in the upper areas, the headteacher stated that action had to be taken without losing time.

Headteacher Dawadi stated that after receiving four consecutive warnings, he did not hesitate and that losing a single day of classes was not more important than a life-or-death situation.

Students' Struggle for Survival

During the evacuation, it was observed that the hostel building located close to the river was submerged in water. Sixteen-year-old student Yunisha recounted that she and her friends escaped by a matter of seconds, and that the town center was swallowed by the waters right before their eyes.

It was reported that thanks to the guidance of teachers at other schools in the region and coincidences such as lunchtime, numerous students survived the disaster.

General Toll and Rescue Operations

According to data from Save the Children, at least 69 schools were damaged nationwide, and approximately 19,000 children were adversely affected by the situation. Across Nepal, more than 3,700 people have been rescued to date, and the death toll has been updated to 781.

It was stated that the disaster, which occurred on Wednesday morning in the Nepal-Tibet border region in the Himalayas, was caused by a glacier collapse. Officials called for a global response against the climate crisis.