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Headmaster Evacuates 900 Students as School Collapses

8/31/2026

44 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Headmaster Rajendra Dawadi evacuated his school, saving at least 900 students.
He rang the bell, sent children to higher ground, turned back buses after an accountant warned of flood on Aug 26, 2026.
Two staff members, Santos Pariyar and Sultan Lama, were swept away and remain missing.
The three-story school collapsed, the old bridge fell, and the flood killed 781 people, including 734 in Nepal.

History

Historical Context

July 2017 monsoon rains flooded one-third of Nepal, killing 140 people, displacing 1.7 million and destroying 34,000 homes, while the Mahendra Highway and Biratnagar Airport were washed out. The disaster followed the 2015 earthquake that left many in temporary shelters. The 2026 Kathmandu school collapse, which killed headmaster Rajendra Dawadi and staff Santos Pariyar and Sultan Lama, highlights persistent safety failures.

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Story summary

Headmaster Rajendra Dawadi evacuated his school, saving at least 900 students.
He rang the bell, sent children to higher ground, turned back buses after an accountant warned of flood on Aug 26, 2026.
Two staff members, Santos Pariyar and Sultan Lama, were swept away and remain missing.
The three-story school collapsed, the old bridge fell, and the flood killed 781 people, including 734 in Nepal.

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