A school principal in Nepal, Rajendra Dawadi, has been hailed for his swift action after he led 1,643 students to safety when a devastating flash flood swept through the Trishuli Valley.
Dawadi, principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, reportedly received an urgent warning on August 26, 2026, that floodwaters were rapidly approaching the area.
Rather than wait for the disaster to unfold, Dawadi immediately activated the school’s emergency response.
He rang the school bell, ordered the evacuation of classrooms, contacted school bus drivers and instructed them to turn back, while leading students and staff towards higher ground.
Minutes later, powerful floodwaters reportedly swept through the area, destroying parts of the school and surrounding infrastructure.
Despite the scale of the disaster, all 1,643 students escaped from the school without being swept away by the flood.
The successful evacuation has been attributed not only to the principal’s quick decision-making but also to the efforts of teachers, school employees, drivers, community members and others who helped move and protect the students as the emergency unfolded.
Some students and staff were reportedly stranded on higher ground for days after escaping the immediate danger.
However, the disaster also came with significant loss of life. Two school employees were later reported killed after separately returning towards the flood-affected area.
The wider flooding has caused extensive destruction across parts of Nepal and Tibet, with reports of hundreds of deaths and thousands of people still missing.
Homes, roads, schools and other critical infrastructure have been destroyed, leaving many communities facing a difficult rescue and recovery operation.
As rescue teams, security personnel, local residents and volunteers continue efforts to locate missing persons and assist survivors, the story of Dawadi and the school community stands as a reminder of how swift action, courage and cooperation can save lives during a disaster.
While the safe evacuation of the 1,643 students is being remembered as a remarkable success, the loss of lives and widespread destruction have left a painful reminder of the devastating human cost of the disaster.
