New Delhi: As the monster flash floods tore through parts of Nepal, rivers surged with terrifying speed, bridges collapsed and entire settlements were swept away.

Amid the destruction, one extraordinary story of courage and presence of mind has emerged from Nuwakot.

Rajendra Dawadi, principal of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School, received a warning from upstream: the river was rising rapidly and the situation was turning dangerous.

He had no time to wait for an official alert. He acted.

The school bell rang.

Around 1,643 children were evacuated to higher ground. School buses were called back. One bus approaching a bridge was stopped just in time.

Minutes later, the bridge collapsed. Then came the flood.

A wall of water, mud, ice and debris swept through the area, destroying the school building and everything in its path.

But the children were safe.

1,643 young lives saved because one person chose to act before it was too late.

Dawadi was later hailed as a hero. His response was strikingly simple: “What else could I do?"

Perhaps that is the truest definition of leadership.

Not waiting for perfect information.
Not waiting for someone else to take charge.
Not thinking about recognition.

In a disaster, courage can sometimes be measured in minutes.

For 1,643 children in Nepal, one teacher made every second count.

BI Bureau