Nepali principal evacuates 1,643 students before destructive floodwaters hit

Heroic intervention by a 47-year-old school principal in Nepal rescued 1,643 children from a deadly glacier collapse. Rajendra Dawadi, an English teacher, received a frantic call at 9:20 am on Wednesday warning that surging river waters had consumed a nearby village. Initially believing his concrete building sitting 60 meters above the river was safe, a panicked parent soon warned him of rapidly rising waters. Acting swiftly, Dawadi rang the school bell and ordered an immediate evacuation of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot. Minutes later, destructive flash floods obliterated the three-story building, along with bridges and power stations across the region.

Tragedy struck the wider area severely, leaving 734 people dead in Nepal and 16 more in neighboring Tibet. Authorities report that nearly 2,498 individuals remain missing in Nepal, while Tibet’s Gyirong County searches for another 546 missing residents. This catastrophe mirrors the dark history of the Langtang region, which previously lost 300 residents to a fatal avalanche triggered by the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015.

Narrow Escape for Students

Students fled on foot to higher ground and eventually found shelter under a large bodhi tree. One young girl experienced a severe panic attack during the chaos and successfully escaped uphill on a motorcycle. Dawadi also managed to turn back all but one school bus before the waters peaked. Although the rapid evacuation saved the entire student body, two staff members tragically lost their lives. Social history teacher Santos Pariyar, 32, washed away while cooking breakfast at his riverside rental. Sultan Lama, the dedicated school janitor, died after returning to secure the building doors.

Science Behind Mountain Disaster

Researchers estimate that a colossal block of ice and rock broke off the Langtang Lirung peak, plunging 1,200 meters into the steep Lhende Khola river gorge. Canadian geomorphologist Daniel Shugar noted this dangerous debris field covered roughly 50 acres. Despite widespread local praise for his quick judgment under pressure, Dawadi downplayed his heroism. Standing near the muddy ruins of his former workplace, he simply questioned what else he could possibly have done to protect his community.

Image Courtesy: The Times