Vice-principal’s quick action moves students out of a flood’s path

The students at Uttargaya Public English Boarding School were still eating breakfast when vice-principal Pawan Sharma received a warning that a large surge of floodwater was moving downstream. The message advised people near the Betrawati turn to move at least a kilometre away.

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We stopped their food and took the children to the top of the hill, to a safer place.

Sharma stopped the meal and took the children to the top of a hill. The school had more than 370 students in its care, leaving little time for deliberation as staff worked to move them away from the flood’s path.

The rescue continued after the students reached higher ground. Guardians who travelled to collect their children faced dangerous conditions, and some were caught on the way. Staff also went into forested areas to reach students who had become stranded. Vehicles were arranged, and the effort continued until around 10 p.m.

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We have no record of them. We don’t know whether they left or stayed.

Sharma said the school had accounted for or handed over about 95% of the students. It had records or information for roughly 40% to 45% of those present during the disaster, while about 10% were travelling elsewhere or staying in shelters. The school still did not know what had happened to some children, who may have been with their guardians when the flood struck.

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There were guardians who came to take their children, but they were caught along the way.

When requested food and medicine did not arrive immediately, the school bought first-aid supplies itself. Representatives later travelled to Nuwakot, received further assistance and arranged transport for students who remained stranded.

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We were bringing them down until 10 at night.