Head Teacher Saves 900 Children from Sudden Flood

A headteacher at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, Nepal, told the BBC how he saved 900 pupils when flood waters rose just ten minutes after he received a warning.

Rajendra Dawadi, who runs the school, said he got four urgent calls at 09:10 local time (03:25 GMT). The calls warned him that a big flood was coming. The flood has now claimed at least 794 lives and left more than 2,400 people missing.

He acted immediately. He ordered the children to run to higher ground and told buses full of students to turn around and leave the area.

“If we hadn’t made a swift decision and had waited even ten minutes, we all—including the students and I—would not have survived,” he said.

The warnings came from four different sources in a short span of minutes. One parent arrived and told him, “A big flood is coming. I am here to take my daughter. I will take her.” Dawadi said there was no reason to hesitate.

He added, “Even if the flood were not imminent, I would have let the students attend classes for a single day. I am proud that we saved so many lives.”

The floods, which devastated parts of Nepal on Wednesday, buried the school building under mud and debris. Dawadi said the waters arrived so quickly that a hostel about 100 m from the river was engulfed immediately.

At first, many students did not realise the severity of the situation. Sixteen‑year‑old Yunisha Amatya recalled scrambling to safety with her friends just before the flood hit:

“We survived by only ten seconds,” she told the BBC. “We were in class when the teachers gathered us and, after five minutes, informed us of the flood and asked us to go home.”

Yunisha said one student fainted upon hearing the news, but many initially underestimated the danger and waited for classmates who were in a maths lesson. She and her friends ran uphill through an escape route behind the school. She described the chaos:

“I could not walk fast, and my friends helped me climb uphill. We tried our best to reach safer zones. We escaped through a narrow ladder at the back of the school. Within no time, the bazaar in front of my eyes was swept away.”

She added that the lack of traction in her shoes could have caused her to fall, and students jostled each other to reach safety, while those who chose alternative routes were swept away.

Students and teachers initially moved a few hundred metres uphill to safety before heading to a neighbouring village. With roads cut off and transport disrupted, many remained stranded for two nights before rescue teams arrived.

The principal and Yunisha, both living across the river from the school, were eventually airlifted back to their home village. Parents desperately tried to contact their children and relatives.

Yunisha’s mother, Sabina Kumari Shrestha, said she repeatedly attempted to call both her daughter and husband, but neither could be reached. Her husband, Yubaraj Amatya, immediately headed toward the school. He recalled:

“Soon after the flood news spread, I tried my daughter’s number, but she was not reachable. I was terrified.”

“Within a few minutes I rushed toward my daughter’s school, and the bazaar was swept by the flood. I thought my daughter was no longer alive. I stood there, hauntingly frightened and unable to think of returning without her.”

“For nearly an hour I had no idea whether she was alive and kept calling her without success. Then the phone finally connected and Yunisha answered.”

“Finally, my daughter took my call and we could not stop crying; two relatives were also with me and we hugged each other.”

Yunisha appeared tearful as she recalled that moment. She added:

“After I had reached the top of the hill, I received a call from my father. He was tearful, and I could not speak a word.”

Back home, her family waited anxiously for her return. Her mother said:

“Even my younger daughter could not sleep. But after three days, until Friday, I was so happy and relieved to see her.”

Yunisha expressed concerns about her future:

“I am worried about my further studies.”

“If I had to change my school, I would miss my old friends and face difficulties making new ones. I am sad about my future studies.”

Head teacher Dawadi believes better warning systems, including sirens and evacuation alerts, could have helped residents respond sooner. However, he feels his immediate decision prevented a catastrophe.

“If I had decided to close the school a few minutes earlier, nothing might have been left except the bell ringing at 9:30.”

The story of the flood shows how quick action and clear communication can save lives. It also reminds us that even a small delay can have huge consequences when nature moves fast.

The flood in Nuwakot was a stark reminder that communities need reliable warning systems. Sirens that sound early, clear evacuation routes, and training for teachers and students can make the difference between life and death. The experience of Rajendra Dawadi and Yunisha Amatya shows that when people act quickly and follow instructions, they can survive even the most sudden disasters.

The government and local authorities are now looking at ways to improve early warning systems. They plan to install more sirens, create better maps of evacuation routes, and run drills in schools so that everyone knows what to do when a flood is coming.

Even when roads were blocked, families, neighbors, and rescue teams worked together to keep people safe. The community found ways to help each other, showing the power of cooperation.

In the end, the story of the 900 children who were saved is a powerful reminder that human courage, quick thinking, and community help can overcome even the most frightening natural events.

While the flood has caused many losses, the story of Rajendra Dawadi and Yunisha Amatya shows that hope remains. Communities must keep working on better warning systems, stronger buildings, and stronger bonds. By learning from this event, Nepal can be better prepared for future floods and protect its children and families.