India’s Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, met Rajendra Dawadi, principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Bidur, Nuwakot, whose quick decision to evacuate the campus saved the lives of more than 1,600 children moments before devastating flash floods swept the school away.
In a post on X, Ambassador Srivastava praised Dawadi’s presence of mind. On August 26, the principal rang the school bell and immediately ordered the evacuation as floodwaters began rising, averting what could have been a massive tragedy.
The raging waters later tore through the Trishuli Valley and completely engulfed the school building.
During their meeting, Srivastava conveyed that India would support the complete reconstruction of the school in the future.
The Ambassador also highlighted the school’s long association with Indian assistance. The institution was originally established in the 1950s and was designed by an Indian engineer who was involved in the construction of the Trishuli Hydropower Plant.
Its newer building was constructed in 2022 with grant assistance under the High Impact Community Development Programme (HICDP).
“Met Rajendra Dawadi, Principal, Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, Bidur, Nuwakot. His timely action saved lives of more than 1600 school children just before the school was swept away in #Rasuwa flash flood. This school was set up in 1950s; Designed by Indian engineer, involved in construction of Trishuli Hydropower plant, built by assistance. New building of this school was built thru #HICDP programme with grant in 2022. Conveyed to Mr. Dawadi that @IndiaInNepal will support reconstruction of the school in the future,” Srivastava wrote on X.
At Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, more than 1,600 students were in danger as the water level rapidly rose. Acting with little time to spare, Dawadi and the teachers evacuated the children to safety.
The students survived, but the school did not. Floodwaters engulfed the building and swept it away.
Speaking to ANI, local resident Surendar Kumar recalled the scale of the destruction. He said the area once had a three-storey school building, a Ram temple and a market.
“There used to be a three-storey building here–a school. There was a temple right in front of it–a Ram temple. And this whole area was a market. In that open space in the middle–that’s where the three-storey school stood. 1600 students studied there. And on the very day this happened, the teachers evacuated all the children and got them to safety. There’s absolutely no sign of the school anymore; it was completely swept away. And there was a Ram temple too… Many people died here… There is no information yet on exactly how many, but the toll was high. So, everything here is gone,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has climbed to 1,003, according to an official update released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) as of 1 PM on Tuesday.
The recovered bodies, including unidentified human remains, have been found across eight districts: 321 in Chitwan, 216 in Nawalparasi East, 170 in Nawalparasi West, 95 in Nuwakot, 65 in Gorkha, 57 in Dhading, 41 in Rasuwa and 38 in Tanahun.
To help identify the victims, unidentified bodies have been transferred to 21 hospitals across various districts. Details have also been made available through official government web portals and social media channels.
The disaster has also left 3,916 people missing. Local administrative reports put the number of missing people at 1,558 in Nuwakot and 865 in Rasuwa. The missing also include 639 workers from hydropower projects, 583 foreign nationals and 164 Nepali citizens travelling with foreign groups.
Rescue teams have so far managed to save 11,884 people. The Nepal Army’s aerial rescue operations accounted for 3,782 evacuations, including 273 foreigners and 3,509 Nepalis.
