India Pledges Full Support to Rebuild Flood-Ravaged School in Nepal
TRISHULI BAZAAR, NUWAKOT — In a significant gesture of international solidarity, India has officially pledged its support for the complete reconstruction of the Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Bidur, Nepal, following the devastating flash floods that swept through the region late last month.
The commitment follows a high-level meeting between the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, and the school’s principal, Rajendra Dawadi. The announcement comes just two days after reports highlighted the institution’s desperate plea for assistance to relocate and rebuild its campus on higher, safer ground.
A Narrow Escape from Tragedy
The August 26 disaster left the school, which serves over 1,600 students, in ruins. However, the scale of the tragedy was significantly mitigated by the swift actions of the school administration. Roughly 900 students present on campus were successfully evacuated, while hundreds of others, who were already en route to the school via bus, were intercepted and prevented from entering the hazardous zone.
Despite the successful evacuation of the student body, the aftermath of the flood remains grim. The institution’s primary infrastructure—including a three-storey, 18-room academic block—was decimated by the rising waters. Tragically, two staff members, Chulrim Lama and teacher Santos Parihar, remain missing.
A Legacy of Cooperation
The bond between the Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School and India is deep-rooted. Established in 1951, the school was originally designed by an Indian engineer, K.I. Singh, during the construction of the Trishuli Hydro Project. Recognizing this historical tie, India had previously invested in the school’s infrastructure, providing a grant of NRs 25 million to construct a modern building that was inaugurated as recently as August 2022.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Ambassador Srivastava lauded Principal Dawadi’s quick thinking, noting that his timely decisions saved countless young lives. “We are deeply grateful to India for the reassurance and for standing with us at this difficult time,” Dawadi said on Wednesday. “This assurance has given the entire school community hope as we attempt to restart classes and locate a permanent, safe site for our campus.”
The Path to Recovery
As the school grapples with total infrastructure loss, the focus has shifted toward normalcy. Beyond the Indian government’s commitment, the local private sector has also stepped in; the Chaudhary Foundation has pledged immediate support to help the school resume operations from a temporary location.
Principal Dawadi emphasized that the priority is to get children back into classrooms as soon as possible to help them process the trauma of the disaster. He noted that the restoration of a local Bailey bridge would be a critical step in reconnecting the community and facilitating the return of students to their academic environment.
As Nepal continues its recovery efforts, this international partnership highlights the enduring India-Nepal development cooperation that remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
