Teacher Saves 900 Students Minutes Before Nepal Floods Devastate School

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:22:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A headteacher’s swift evacuation of 900 pupils a mere ten minutes before massive floods hit Nuwakot school demonstrates the critical need for robust warning systems.

In Nuwakot, a headteacher at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School received emergency calls at 09:10 that a huge flood was approaching. Deciding instantly to evacuate, he ordered students and buses to higher ground. The waters hit the school within ten minutes, burying the building and claiming at least 794 lives in the nationwide disaster. Many teachers and pupils were stranded for two nights before rescue forces reached them. The story underlines the importance of timely alerts and emergency responsiveness in flood-prone areas.

Sudden Flood Warning

A headteacher named Rajendra Dawadi at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot was alerted at 09:10 local time by four different callers that an enormous flood was imminent. The warnings came within minutes of each other, making it clear that immediate action was needed.

Rapid Evacuation

Dawadi quickly decided to evacuate about 900 pupils. He told students to run to higher ground and instructed buses carrying students to turn around and leave the area. "If we did not act within ten minutes, we would not be able to speak to you today," he told the BBC. The decision saved the lives of many.

Aftermath of the Flood

The floodwaters rushed in so fast that a school hostel building located only a few hundred metres from the river was engulfed almost immediately. The large school campus was later buried beneath a wide expanse of mud and debris. While the national flood only has confirmed losses of 794 lives, missing persons totals exceed 2,400.

Student Experience

Freshman Yunisha Amatya recalled being told by her teacher to move to safer zones. She and friends scrambled up a narrow ladder from the back of the school, narrowly escaping the rising waters. She said it took only seconds for the students to reach safety before the flood swept through the local bazaar.

Stranded and Rescue Efforts

Many staff and students were cut off by damaged roads and stayed stranded for two nights before rescuers could reach them. The school principal and Amatya were eventually airlifted back to their home village.

Calls for Better Warning Systems

Both the headteacher and community members called for improved flood warning systems, including sirens and rapid alerts. "Better systems could have helped residents respond earlier," Dawadi noted. However, he believes his prompt action prevented a catastrophe.