Headteacher saves 900 children from deadly flash flood in Nepal
Rescuers saved Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan from a hydropower tunnel 170 metres deep on Friday. The two men survived nine days after flash floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border. A tunnelling expert suggests other survivors may exist in a "Goldilocks zone" within the plant. This rescue follows a broader disaster that killed 1,003 people and left 3,916 missing. Search efforts continue for dozens of other workers believed to be trapped in a room-like structure inside the tunnel system.
What changed
Two workers were pulled alive from a 170-metre deep tunnel nine days after the initial flood.
Live updates
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Two workers rescued from Nepal hydropower tunnel nine days after flood
Rescuers saved Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan from a hydropower tunnel 170 metres deep on Friday. The two men survived nine days after flash floods hit the Nepal-Tibet border. A tunnelling expert suggests other survivors may exist in a "Goldilocks zone" within the plant. This rescue follows a broader disaster that killed 1,003 people and left 3,916 missing. Search efforts continue for dozens of other workers believed to be trapped in a room-like structure inside the tunnel system.
Why it matters
The disaster began on August 26 with flash floods across Nepal and Tibet. The event destroyed infrastructure including the Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School. Recovery efforts now focus on deep-tunnel rescues and DNA identification of the deceased.
What is confirmed
- Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan were rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel on Friday.
- The rescued workers were found at a depth of 170 metres.
- Head teacher Rajendra Dawadi evacuated roughly 900 students from Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School at 9:10 a.m. on August 26.
- Floodwaters hit the school ten minutes after the evacuation order.
Still unconfirmed
- A Goldilocks zone in the tunnel may contain more survivors.
What to watch next
- Confirmation of additional survivors in the hydropower tunnel
- Updated missing persons count following DNA identification efforts
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (4)
- news.mongabay.com — During Nepal floods, decentralized, community-based warning saved lives
- www.theguardian.com — Dozens of trapped hydropower tunnel workers in Nepal could still be alive, official says
- www.theguardian.com — Nepal-Tibet flash flood: Two workers pulled alive from hydropower tunnel nine days after disaster
- www.bbc.com — Two workers pulled alive from Nepal tunnel nine days after deadly flash flooding
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Nepal flood death toll exceeds 1,000 as rescue efforts enter seventh day
The death toll from flash floods in Nepal and Tibet has climbed to 1,003, with 3,916 people still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing into a seventh day, focusing on trapped hydropower workers and the identification of victims through DNA samples. In Nuwakot, Principal Rajendra Dawadi saved at least 900 students by evacuating the school just before the floodwaters washed the building away. The evacuation followed a last-minute warning from the school accountant while students were in their classrooms.
Why it matters
The disaster has caused widespread devastation across the region, affecting both local residents and international tourists. Authorities are currently managing a massive recovery effort involving the identification of 927 recovered bodies.
What is confirmed
- The death toll from the floods has reached 1,003.
- Rescue operations have entered their seventh day.
- There are 3,916 people missing.
- Principal Rajendra Dawadi evacuated at least 900 students before the school was washed away.
Still unconfirmed
- A school accountant provided the warning that led to the student evacuation.
- A British family remains missing one week after the disaster.
- Police are requesting DNA, blood samples, and photos from relatives to identify victims.
What to watch next
- Updates on the status of missing hydropower workers
- Confirmation of the identity of the missing British family
- Official reports on the number of bodies handed over to families
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (5)
- www.newindianexpress.com — Nepal flash flood death toll climbs to 1003, rescue operations enter seventh day with 3,916 people missing
- www.aol.co.uk — Nepal-Tibet flood deaths pass 1,000 as police ask relatives for DNA to identify victims
- www.kcci.com — Principal saved 900 children before his school was washed away in Nepal
- metro.co.uk — ‘We just wait by the phone’: British family missing in Nepal nearly week after disaster
- www.goodnewsnetwork.org — Last-Minute Flood Warning Saved Over 900 Nepal Students, School Principal Said
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Headteacher evacuates 900 children before Nepal flash floods
A headteacher in Nepal successfully evacuated around 900 children from his school minutes before devastating flash floods hit the area. The floods, which occurred in Nuwakot, have killed almost 1,000 people and left thousands missing. The headteacher, Rajendra Dawadi, is being hailed as a hero for his quick actions. The evacuation was reportedly aided by a lunch break, which allowed the children to be safely moved before the floods arrived.
Why it matters
The flash floods in Nepal have caused widespread destruction and loss of life, with many schools affected. The evacuation of the children from Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School is seen as a remarkable example of foresight and courage in the face of disaster. The incident highlights the importance of preparedness and effective emergency response in saving lives. Nepal is prone to natural disasters, including floods and landslides, due to its geography and climate.
What is confirmed
- Around 900 children were evacuated from Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot, Nepal, minutes before flash floods hit the area.
- The floods in Nepal have killed almost 1,000 people and left thousands of others missing.
- The evacuation was aided by a lunch break, which allowed the children to be safely moved before the floods arrived.
- Rajendra Dawadi, the headteacher of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, led the evacuation of the children.
Still unconfirmed
- A stranger ran past a school screaming 'Run, water', saving 370 kids and teachers.
What to watch next
- Further details on the number of fatalities and missing persons in Nepal
- The response of Nepalese authorities to the disaster and plans for improved flood warning systems
- The impact of the floods on education and infrastructure in the affected areas
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (16)
- The Times — Teacher saved 1,643 children from Nepal flash floods
- BBC — Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school
- AP News — Saved by a lunch break: Nepal floods destroyed many schools, but students at this school survived
- The Guardian — Headteacher saves 900 children from deadly flash flood in Nepal
- The Times of India — Nepal floods: Stranger ran past school screaming ‘Run, water’. It saved 370 kids, teachers
- Yahoo — Nepal students survive devastating floods thanks to lunch break
- ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Nepali teacher saved hundreds of students from flood, minutes before it arrived
- NDTV — Saved By Lunch Break: How Students At This School Escaped Nepal Floods
- News4JAX — This principal in Nepal evacuated 900 students before flooding swept away their school
- The New York Times — A Principal Saved 900 Children Before His School Was Washed Away in Nepal
- U.S. News & World Report — Last-Minute Flood Warning Saved Over 900 Nepal Students, School Head Says
- www.theguardian.com — Monday briefing: Nepal and Tibet’s floods are a warning for the future