Rajendra Dawadi, principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nepal’s Trishuli Valley, took decisive action to evacuate more than 900 students ahead of devastating flash floods that struck the region last week. The floods, triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, caused widespread destruction across Nepal and neighboring China, resulting in over 900 confirmed deaths and leaving more than 4,700 people missing.
On the morning of the disaster, Dawadi was inside his classroom when a colleague warned him that floodwaters were rapidly advancing through the valley, destroying homes, bridges, and entire villages. Shortly after, a phone alert and a parent arriving to collect a child confirmed the urgency of the situation. Acting swiftly, Dawadi sounded the school bell and directed students and staff to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
Though the risks were not fully verified at the time, Dawadi prioritized the safety of those present. Out of the school’s 1,643 enrolled students, approximately 900 were on campus that day. He halted classes and called bus drivers to remain away. One bus, already arriving with students, was instructed to turn back just in time; its return route traversed a recently constructed bridge that remained intact while an adjacent older bridge collapsed shortly after.
As Dawadi and the evacuees reached safety on a nearby hill, he witnessed the school—the institution where he both studied and taught for years—being engulfed by floodwaters mixed with mud, boulders, and debris. Two school staff members were unable to escape and remain missing.
The destruction of Dawadi’s school reflects a broader crisis affecting educational infrastructure across northern Nepal. According to aid groups, including Save the Children, at least 69 schools have been destroyed in the floods, putting the education of nearly 19,000 students at risk. The disruption threatens to deprive children of classroom learning for months or longer.
Despite the scale of the tragedy, Dawadi’s actions have been widely praised for preventing significant loss of life. Upon returning to the site in the days following the flood, he received emotional thanks from parents whose children were saved. Dawadi, however, expressed reluctance to embrace hero status, emphasizing that protecting students was part of his duty as principal.
Looking ahead, Dawadi highlighted the need for psychological support for students affected by the trauma, as well as urgent efforts to rebuild schools and restore educational services. He called on the Nepalese government to prioritize reconstruction to ensure children can resume classes as soon as possible, even if temporary arrangements must be made.