Nepal Floods: How Principal Rajendra Dawadi Saved 900 Students From Disaster
Nepal principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated around 900 students after receiving flood warnings. Minutes later, raging water swept away the school.
Nepal Principal’s Quick Decision Saves 900 Students
A school morning in Nepal’s Nuwakot district turned into a race for survival on August 26. Principal Rajendra Dawadi ordered an immediate evacuation after receiving warnings about rapidly rising floodwaters.
Around 900 students were already at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School when the warning reached Dawadi. He stopped classes and directed students and staff towards higher ground.
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The decision proved critical within minutes. A powerful surge of water, mud, rocks and debris swept through the area and destroyed the school building.
Warning Came With Little Time
Dawadi was at the school when warnings began arriving from people upstream. The messages indicated that flooding had already reached nearby areas.
According to Reuters, the school had only about 14 minutes to complete the evacuation. Dawadi quickly stopped classes and coordinated the movement of students towards safer ground.
The school had 1,643 students in total. About 900 were already on campus that morning, while others were still travelling to school.
Principal Ordered Immediate Evacuation
Dawadi rang the school bell and instructed teachers to move students out of classrooms. Staff helped organise the children as they headed towards higher ground.
He also contacted school bus drivers who were still travelling towards the campus. The drivers were told to turn back rather than bring more students into the danger zone.
One bus had already reached the area when Dawadi told the driver to reverse. Shortly afterwards, a nearby bridge collapsed as floodwaters surged through the valley.
School Disappears Under Floodwater
The three-storey school building could not withstand the force of the flood. Water, mud, boulders and debris swept through the campus.
Dawadi watched from higher ground as the school where he had once studied disappeared beneath the flood. The building was later left heavily damaged or destroyed by the disaster.
Two members of the school staff remain missing, according to reports. The wider disaster has also caused extensive loss of life and infrastructure across the region.
Students Reach Higher Ground
The evacuation allowed the students to escape before the flood reached the school. Parents later thanked Dawadi for acting quickly when the warnings arrived.
Student Suvina Tamang, 14, said she would thank the principal for saving her life. Her account reflects the fear students experienced as they fled the approaching flood.
Dawadi has described his decision as part of his responsibility towards the students. His actions have since received widespread praise from the local community.
Disaster Damages Schools Across Northern Nepal
The destruction was not limited to one school. Save the Children said at least 69 schools in northern Nepal were destroyed. The damage has put the education of nearly 19,000 students at risk.
Thousands of children now face disruption to their education. Authorities and aid organisations are expected to focus on temporary classrooms and rebuilding efforts.
The disaster has also damaged roads, bridges and other vital infrastructure. Many affected communities remain cut off .
A Decision Made In Minutes
The Nepal floods principal saves 900 students story has become one of the clearest examples of how quick decisions can save lives during a disaster.
Dawadi did not wait for complete certainty before acting. Once multiple warnings arrived, he prioritised evacuation and moved students away from the river.
Focus Now Turns To Rebuilding
Dawadi has called for the school to be rebuilt in a safer location. He also wants affected students to receive support as they deal with the loss of their school and the wider disaster.
