Headmaster hailed hero for timely action that saved 1,643 school students from Nepal floods

THE devastating Nepal flash floods that took place on Wednesday morning, 26 August, shocked the world after turbulent waters swept away buildings, houses, trees and anything that came their way, leaving hundreds dead. The presence of mind of a school headmaster brought down the death toll significantly.

A three-story school building that came in the way of the strong current was completely washed away and no trace remained. However, all 1,643 students of this school survived the disaster due to the quick thinking of the school headmaster. Let's find out how Ravindra Dadabi's quick-witted response to tragedy saved the students.

The Times journalist Chris Haslam described how Dadabi was able to avert the disaster just in time. The school, destroyed by floodwaters, was located near the Trashuli River in the Battar region of Nuwakot district. When Dadabi learnt about the flash floods ravaging the region, he promptly “rang the bell, sent pupils and staff to high ground, and even had the presence of mind to call inbound bus drivers and tell them to turn back," Chris Haslam said.

On the fateful day when the school was just about to start, flood waves up to 30 metres high, gushing at a speed of 75 km per hour, ripped around that bend where the school was situated. Two bridges and all houses that stood on the riverbank were destroyed, including the house of the headmaster.

‘He told me to run’

When Rajendra Dadabi's friend Betrawati who lived five miles upstream, alerted him about the ferocious flow of the river, 700 students were on their way on foot and by bus. “He said the village was gone: taken by the river,” The Times quoted Dadabi as saying. He added, “He told me to run.”

Following the distress call, Dadabi acted quickly. Recounting the happenings of the day, the 47-year-old English teacher said, “I got through to all the drivers but one and told them to turn back. Then I saw the bus I hadn’t been able to contact coming across the bridge. By now, the water was in the school grounds — it was so fast — so I told him to turn around. It got to the other side just as the bridge collapsed."

Except for the loss of one teaching staff member, Dadabi’s resourcefulness saved the lives of 1,643 children and all other faculty members.⁠ Following this incident, Nepalis hailed him as a hero.