The story of a middle school principal in Nepal who evacuated students to higher ground and prevented a disaster amid devastating floods is drawing attention.
According to the BBC, at around 9:20 a.m. local time on the 26th of last month, Rajendra Dawadi, the principal of a middle school in Nepal's Nuwakot district, received four warning phone calls from different people within just a few minutes.
He said, "At first, I thought the school building would be safe because it is a three-story concrete structure located 60 meters above the riverbed."
However, when a parent soon arrived at the school to pick up their child, Principal Dawadi immediately rang the school bell and ordered teachers to evacuate all classrooms.
At the time, it was revealed that about 900 of the total 1,600 students were at the school attending morning classes.
While leading the students to higher ground, he witnessed the water rising so rapidly that the dormitory building, located about 100 meters from the river, was submerged in an instant.
In response, Principal Dawadi immediately called the school buses heading toward the school and instructed them to turn around.
It was reported that each bus was carrying about 80 students at the time.
Spotting the final bus, which had not been reached by phone, crossing the bridge right in front of the school, he shouted at the driver to turn the vehicle around even as floodwaters surged into the school grounds.
The bridge reportedly collapsed into the river just moments after the bus managed to back up and escape to safety.
Just minutes after Principal Dawadi and the school staff helped the remaining students up the hill, a powerful current swept rapidly across the hillside, and the school building reportedly vanished without a trace.
Two staff members lost their lives at the school, but thanks to the principal's efforts, a much greater tragedy was averted.
In an interview with the media, Principal Dawadi stated, "I just did what I had to do."
(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Kim Minji | Graphics by Sumin | Produced by SBS Digital News | Source: BBC, The Guardian)
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