- Principal saves 1,643 children moments before a flash flood destroys the school.
- Social history teacher Santos Pariyar, 32, was killed after returning to his accommodation beside the river.
- School janitor Sultan Lama was swept away after going back towards the school.
Principal Rajendra Dadabi received a warning at around 9:20 am on August 26 that floodwaters were rapidly approaching Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School. A friend in Betrawati, five miles upstream, alerted him that the village had been swept away.1
With about 900 children already at the school and another 700 on their way, Dadabi rang the school bell and instructed teachers to evacuate classrooms. He managed to contact all but one bus driver, instructing them to turn back. The remaining bus was crossing a bridge near the school when he spotted it and told the driver to turn around, reaching safety just before the bridge collapsed.
The children were sent uphill on foot and took shelter under a bodhi tree as floodwaters swept away their school buildings. Remarkably, all 1,643 pupils survived the disaster. Tragically, teacher Santos Pariyar, 32, was killed after returning to his accommodation beside the river, and janitor Sultan Lama was swept away after going back towards the school.
This incident highlights the critical importance of timely warnings and decisive action in the face of natural disasters, showcasing the heroism of educators like Dadabi who prioritize student safety above all else.
“The rescue occurred as the flood hit the school, but two staff members died after returning to the riverbank. Social history teacher Santos Pariyar, 32, was killed at his accommodation, and janitor Sultan Lama was swept away while going back toward the school.”
