Floods Damage Schools Across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading

The floods that swept through northern Nepal have caused significant damage to schools in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, while communication disruptions in Rasuwa are making it difficult for authorities to establish the full extent of the destruction.

Preliminary information indicates that six schools in Rasuwa, six in Nuwakot and four in Dhading have been affected by the flooding.

Rasuwa faces information blackout

Rasuwa, where the flood entered Nepal after coming from the Tibet side, has been particularly difficult to assess.

Initial reports indicate damage to six schools, with the Gosaikunda Rural Municipality area among the worst affected.

The building of Timure Community School in Timure, Gosaikunda-2, has suffered major damage. Authorities have not yet been able to determine whether parts of the building were swept away or collapsed.

A school in Uttargaya Rural Municipality was also damaged, with students reportedly forced to flee to safety.

Two boarding schools and two community schools in the Timure area are also believed to have suffered serious damage. However, officials have not yet been able to confirm the names or precise extent of damage because communication with the area has been disrupted.

Durgaprasad Silwal, head of the Education Development and Coordination Unit in Rasuwa, reached Nuwakot after losing contact with the district.

He said the lack of electricity, telephone services and internet access has made it extremely difficult to collect reliable information.

Officials in Kathmandu have also been unable to establish contact with Timure. Pema Dorje Ghale, a ward member of Gosaikunda-2, said he had not been able to obtain details about the damage.

Six Nuwakot schools affected

Nuwakot has reported damage to six schools, with four suffering complete destruction, according to the district's Education Development and Coordination Unit.

Among the worst affected is Tribhuvan Trishul Secondary School in Bidur Municipality-5, which has suffered extensive physical damage. The school has around 1,643 students.

Despite the scale of the destruction, there were no reported casualties among students because they had been moved to a safer location before the flooding intensified.

Principal Rajendra Dawadi said around 50 teachers, staff and students stayed on higher ground above Trishuli Bazaar during the flood.

The hostel of Chandeshwor Secondary School in Bidur-7, Tupche was completely damaged.

Physical structures at Ramchandra Basic School in Bidur-10, Betrabati, and Uttargaya Boarding School were also swept away.

Meanwhile, floodwater entered JD Boarding School and Pioneer School in Bidur-6, disrupting their operations.

Students separated from families

The flooding has also created a difficult situation for students who were at school when the disaster struck.

Roads and bridges connecting parts of Nuwakot were damaged, making it difficult for children to return home or reunite with their families.

Prabha Bogati, deputy mayor of Bidur Municipality, said authorities were struggling to reunite students with their parents because communications had been cut off and roads were blocked.

Education officials said helicopters were being used in some areas to move children to safe locations and help reunite them with their families.

Four Dhading schools affected

The impact on schools in Dhading has been comparatively limited, although classes have been disrupted.

Floodwater entered four schools: three in Galchhi Rural Municipality and one in Siddhalek Rural Municipality.

The affected schools are:

• Bageshwori Secondary School, Galchhi
• Amaleshwor Gurukul School, Galchhi
• Success Academy, Galchhi
• Jaleshwor Secondary School, Siddhalek

Officials said there had been no major structural damage reported at these schools, but cleaning and reopening will depend on restoring access along the Prithvi Highway and clearing affected roads.

Eight teachers travelling to Gosaikunda missing

Meanwhile, eight teachers from Dhading have been reported out of contact after travelling to Gosaikunda for a pilgrimage.

According to district education officials, three are currently serving teachers and five are former teachers.

Those reported missing include current teachers Thakur Prasad Lamsal of Pashupati Secondary School in Nilkantha Municipality, Januka Khanal of Deurali Secondary School and Shivahari Lamsal of Palpa Samari Bhanjyang Secondary School.

The five former teachers reported out of contact are Tulsi Timilsena and Ishwari Prasad Timilsena from Nilkantha Municipality, Hariprasad Silwal and Ghanshyam Bhatt from Siddhalek Rural Municipality, and Narayan Prasad Lamsal from Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality.

Their whereabouts have not yet been confirmed.

Rescue and assessment continue

The full impact of the floods on schools remains unclear, particularly in Rasuwa, where damaged communications have prevented authorities from carrying out a complete assessment.

Education officials are prioritising the safety of students and staff while rescue teams continue operations across the affected districts.

With roads, bridges, electricity and communications disrupted in several locations, authorities are relying on information from rescue teams and people who have managed to leave the worst-hit areas to build a clearer picture of the damage.