The morning of the recent catastrophic floods in Nepal began like any other for Rajendra Dawadi, the principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli School in Nuwakot. However, at 9:10 a.m., he received a frantic warning about incoming floodwaters, leaving him only minutes to act. Recognizing the imminent danger, Dawadi mobilized 900 students—all aged between 11 and 18—to higher ground immediately. Because the younger primary students had not yet arrived for their 10 a.m. classes, the evacuation was swift and orderly. Teachers even used motorbikes to rescue students who had fainted from the overwhelming stress of the situation.

Just 13 minutes after the initial warning, a massive surge of mud and debris completely obliterated the school grounds. While the buildings were lost in seconds, Dawadi’s quick thinking ensured that not a single student was caught in the deluge. As Nepal reels from a disaster that has left thousands missing and caused widespread destruction across the region, Dawadi remains mournful over the loss of the school that shaped his own childhood. Despite the tragedy of losing the facility, he is now grappling with the daunting challenge of finding a way to continue his students' education amidst the ongoing crisis.