Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school

A headteacher in Nepal successfully evacuated 900 students from his school just minutes before it was engulfed by floodwaters, a decision he credits with saving their lives. Rajendra Dawadi, the head of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, recounted to the BBC that he received four urgent phone calls at 09:10 local time (03:25 GMT) warning of the impending disaster, which has now claimed at least 794 lives.

Dawadi made the swift decision to evacuate, instructing the children to run to higher ground and ordering school buses already en route to turn back. He stated, "If we didn't make a quick decision, if it was 10 minutes later, we all - including the students and me - wouldn't be able to speak to you today."

The rapid succession of warnings, including one from a parent who arrived to collect their daughter, helped Dawadi assess the immediate danger. "Parents don't rush without a strong reason, so it was confirmed that I shouldn't waste a second to evacuate the children," he explained. "I decided I shouldn't delay any more. Even if the flood was not coming, it was just a matter of a single day's classes. I feel proud that we saved so many lives."

The floods, which devastated parts of Nepal on Wednesday and left at least 2,426 people missing, completely buried the school building under mud and debris. Dawadi noted the speed of the waters, which immediately engulfed a hostel building located approximately 100m (328ft) from the river.

Initially, many students did not grasp the severity of the situation. Sixteen-year-old pupil Yunisha Amatya described scrambling to safety with her friends with mere seconds to spare. "I along with my friends survived by just 10 seconds only," she told the BBC. She recalled being in class when teachers, initially unaware of the full extent of the situation, eventually informed them about the flood and urged them to go home. One student fainted upon hearing the news, while others underestimated the danger and waited for classmates in a maths lesson.

Yunisha and her friends ascended a narrow escape route behind the school. "I could not walk fast, and my friends helped me to climb uphill. We tried our best to be in the safer zones then. We escaped through a narrow ladder from backside of the school. Within no time, the bazaar was swept away in front of my eyes," she said, referring to the local market. She added, "If there was no grip in my shoes I would have fallen and students and other people were jostling each other to reach the safer area while escaping. The people who choose to escape from another route are apparently swept away."

Students and teachers initially moved a few hundred meters uphill before continuing to a neighboring village. With roads cut off, many were stranded for two nights until rescue efforts reached them. Both Principal Dawadi and Yunisha, who live across the river from the school, were eventually airlifted back to their home village.

Meanwhile, parents desperately tried to contact their children. Yunisha's mother, Sabina Kumari Shrestha, repeatedly attempted to call her daughter and husband without success. Her husband, Yubaraj Amatya, immediately headed towards the school. "Soon after the flood news spread, I tried my daughter's number, but she was not reachable, then I was afraid," he recounted. "Within a few minutes I rushed toward my daughter's school and Trishuli Bazar was all swept by the flood, then I thought my daughter was no more. I was so horrified, stopped my scooter, there was flooding but I could not think of returning without my daughter."

After nearly an hour of frantic, unsuccessful calls, Yunisha finally answered. "Finally, my daughter received my call and I couldn't stop myself, broke out... two relatives that were with me also cried and hugged me," he said. Yunisha became tearful recalling the moment: "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 then."

Back home, her family anxiously awaited her return. "Even my younger daughter couldn't sleep. But I felt so good to see her after three days (Friday), I am so happy and relieved," her mother said.

Yunisha is now concerned about her future education. "Now I am worried about my further studies," she expressed. "If I had to change my school, I would have to miss my old friends and will face difficulties to make new friends. I am sad about my further studies."

Head teacher Dawadi believes that improved warning systems, including sirens and evacuation alerts, could have enabled residents to respond more quickly. However, he remains convinced that his immediate decision to act prevented a greater tragedy. "Had I decided to close the school after the period, nothing might be left, only the bell would be ringing at 9:30."