Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school

Live updates

1. 12d ago

   Principal Evacuates 900 Children Before Nepal Floods

   School principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated over 900 students to higher ground minutes before flash floods completely destroyed their school in Nepal. Dawadi acted after receiving a warning from the school accountant while students were in their classrooms. The evacuation occurred as part of a catastrophic regional disaster that left nearly 1,000 people dead and thousands missing. Property and infrastructure losses across the country have been estimated at at least $2.56 billion by the nation's disaster authority chief.

   Why it matters

   The disaster highlights the devastating impact of severe flooding across the region, which has left whole valleys without standing structures and thousands of children without access to education. While decentralized and community-based warnings proved lifesaving at this specific school, the wider catastrophe has triggered calls for improved national infrastructure and warning systems. UK charities are currently facing the reality of restoring education infrastructure in the heavily impacted areas.

   What is confirmed

   • School principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated over 900 students to higher ground minutes before flash floods swept away Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary.
   • The flash floods in Nepal killed almost 1,000 people and left thousands missing.
   • Property, housing, and infrastructure worth at least $2.56 billion were damaged in the floods.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The evacuation at the school took place precisely 10 minutes before the flood surge hit.

   What to watch next

   • Assessments of total missing persons and recovery operations for hydropower workers.
   • Implementation of improved flood warning systems by Nepalese leaders.
   • Charity and government efforts to restore education access for displaced children.
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. The New York Times — A Principal Saved 900 Children Before His School Was Washed Away in Nepal
   2. Reuters — Last-minute flood warning saved over 900 Nepal students, school head says
   3. www.nbcnews.com — Fast-acting principal in Nepal evacuated 900 students before flooding swept away their school
   4. People.com — Principal Evacuated Nearly 1,000 Children from School in Nepal within Minutes of Flash Floods
   5. jen.jiji.com — Violence against 13-year-old in Turin minimarket, judge: "Man has difficulty controlling impulses, but signature obligation is sufficient"
   6. www.goodnewsnetwork.org — Last-Minute Flood Warning Saved Over 900 Nepal Students, School Principal Said
   7. www.aol.com — UK charity faces 'reality' of restoring education in Nepal
   8. CNN — August 30, 2026 — Rescuers search for missing hydropower workers after Nepal-China floods
   9. WDSU — Principal saved 900 children before his school was washed away in Nepal
   10. goodnewsnetwork.org — Last-Minute Flood Warning Saved Over 900 Nepal Students, School Principal Said
   11. Rediff — Teacher's alarm saves 400 students as floods hit Nepal school
   12. U.S. News & World Report — In Flood-Ravaged Nepal Valley Nothing Is Left Standing
   confidence 100%
2. 15d ago

   Nepal Headteacher Rajendra Dawadi Saved 900 Students from Flash Floods

   School principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated at least 900 students to higher ground minutes before flash floods destroyed their school in Nepal. Dawadi acted after receiving warnings from upstream, with some reports stating the evacuation occurred 10 minutes before the surge hit. While the school was swept away, the students survived. Dawadi is now calling on Nepalese leaders to implement better flood warning systems. This event occurred amid a regional disaster that killed nearly 1,000 people and left 2,400 others unaccounted for.

   Why it matters

   The disaster destroyed multiple schools across the country. The school in question had previously been rebuilt using aid from India. This incident highlights the lack of formal warning systems in flood-prone regions.

   What is confirmed

   • Principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated at least 900 students before flash floods hit his school.
   • The flood destroyed the school and other buildings across the region.
   • Nearly 1,000 people died across the region due to the floods.
   • 2,400 people remain unaccounted for following the disaster.

   Still unconfirmed

   • A stranger screaming Run, water saved 370 kids and teachers at a school.
   • The school was rebuilt with India aid and is now seeking help to rebuild on higher ground.

   What to watch next

   • Official government response to Rajendra Dawadi's request for improved warning systems
   • Confirmation of the total death toll and missing persons count
   • Funding status for the reconstruction of the destroyed school on higher ground
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. The Times of India — Rebuilt with India aid, flood-erased Nepal school seeks help to rebuild on higher ground
   2. The Times — Teacher saved 1,643 children from Nepal flash floods
   3. NDTV — Nepal Teacher Received Flood Warning. What He Did Next Saved 1,643 Children
   4. BBC — Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school
   5. Click2Houston — Saved by a lunch break: Nepal floods destroyed many schools, but students at this school survived
   6. The Guardian — Headteacher saves 900 children from deadly flash flood in Nepal
   7. The Times of India — Nepal floods: Stranger ran past school screaming ‘Run, water’. It saved 370 kids, teachers
   8. www.yahoo.com — Headteacher saved 900 pupils from Nepal floods in dramatic evacuation
   9. www.arise.tv — Nepal Head Teacher Saved 900 Pupils Minutes Before Flood Hits School
   10. www.oversixty.com.au — Nepal headteacher’s heroic act saves 900 children from flood horror
   11. ca.style.yahoo.com — Hero Teacher Saves 1,600 Children From Nepal Floods Moments Before School Is Swept Away
   12. www.theguardian.com — Headteacher saves 900 children from deadly flash flood in Nepal
   confidence 90%