Nuwakot, August 28
The devastating flood in the Trishuli River swept away Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot on Wednesday. But the quick response of the school’s principal and staff ensured that all students were evacuated from the school before the flood struck.
No student was swept away inside the school premises.
However, a group of around 40–50 students and staff, along with Principal Rajendra Dawadi, became stranded after fleeing towards the hills. They remained there for three days, waiting for rescue after communication links were severed by the flooding.
Dawadi and the stranded students were finally rescued on Friday, the third day after the flood.
“I have also reached Battar now. When we fled the school, we climbed towards the hill. We stayed there, managing whatever we could. We were almost stranded,” Dawadi told Onlinekhabar.
“There were around 40–50 students and staff with me. We were all rescued today.”
15 more students waiting for rescue
Dawadi said around 15 other students who had also fled towards higher ground remain stranded in another location.
Some students who had left the school during the evacuation had sought shelter with relatives or elsewhere. After hearing that Dawadi and his group had been rescued, some of them also gathered at the same location.
“I have already asked the Army to rescue them,” he said. “They said it would not be possible today and that they would do it throughout tomorrow.”
Dawadi said only two or three students are believed to have not yet reached their parents.
However, in some cases, it has been impossible to establish contact because the homes where students had been sent were themselves swept away by the flood.
“If their houses and the entire market have been washed away, it is difficult to say what happened to those children and their parents,” he said. “There has been no way to contact them. But we are in contact with the others.”
Two school employees—teacher Santosh Pariyar and an office assistant—also remain out of contact, Dawadi said.
Three days without electricity or supplies
Dawadi said the stranded students and staff had to spend several difficult days on higher ground without electricity or easy access to food and other supplies.
“We are now in a relatively safe place. I have reached my own house near the barracks,” he said. “There was no electricity at the place where we stayed for the past two days.”
As the flood began sweeping away the market below, people who could escape climbed towards higher ground. But even there, conditions remained difficult as roads and bridges were cut off.
Local residents and clubs prepared food at a covered hall and distributed it to those stranded. Dawadi said they also stayed together at a church.
‘I don’t have many complaints about the rescue’
Dawadi said he did not believe the state had been slow in carrying out rescue operations.
“From what we could see, those who were visible outside their houses or in other exposed places had already been rescued,” he said. “There had not been much excavation work inside the affected areas.”
He said his group had deliberately remained at a higher elevation for safety, particularly amid reports that another lake upstream could burst.
“Considering the circumstances, I think the state’s response has been reasonable. I don’t feel that the rescue was delayed,” he said.
Dawadi, however, suggested that authorities prioritise people still trapped in places that are difficult to access.
“We survived and managed our food ourselves. But it would be better to prioritise people trapped in rivers, on roads and in places where bodies have been found,” he said.
“I don’t have many complaints. I feel the state is doing what it can with the resources available.”
Relief supplies reach Battar
After being rescued, Dawadi said those brought to Battar were receiving basic health checks before being handed over to their relatives.
“Those rescued are having their blood pressure checked and undergoing basic examinations before being handed over to their families,” he said.
Patients in serious condition have been flown to Kathmandu by helicopter, while ambulances are also transporting patients directly to the capital.
Large quantities of food and relief materials have also been stockpiled in the area.
“Yesterday, we were in a situation where we did not even have food,” Dawadi said. “If the relief materials arriving here could reach the people where we were yesterday, it would help them greatly.”
Remaining students are in Bidur
The remaining 15 students are believed to be staying in Bidur Municipality-9, near a hospital at an area locally known as the 3D Ground, where helicopters have been operating rescue and evacuation flights.
“Two or three of my teacher colleagues are with them,” Dawadi said. “I have already spoken to the administration here. They have said they will try to rescue them today if possible, or throughout tomorrow.”
He said the students may be under some psychological stress after spending days waiting for rescue.
“Otherwise, even if they are rescued by tomorrow, they should be fine,” he said.
The students are all Plus Two-level students, meaning they are aged 16 or above.
“They are reportedly sitting there watching the helicopters flying overhead,” Dawadi said. “I would urge everyone to make every effort to rescue all of them as quickly as possible.”
