Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Nepal Flood Tragedy: Five Stories of Courage and Rescue
Severe floods struck Nepal on August 26, destroying homes, roads, bridges and schools.
Many people were killed or reported missing.
Priya Adhikari flew helicopters into dangerous valleys to rescue survivors.
Rajendra Dawadi quickly evacuated hundreds of students before their school was swept away.
Prabesh Nagarkoti returned to help people trapped by the rising water.
Chhiring Tamang drove 50 children to safety just before a bridge was washed away.
He was also grieving because his nephew died in the disaster.
Volunteers from Youth Initiative used solar power to help families charge phones and contact one another.
These stories show that people helped others in many different ways during the tragedy.
Priya Adhikari, Nepal’s first woman helicopter captain, flew nearly 100 rescue missions in six days.
Rajendra Dawadi helped evacuate more than 900 students and 16 staff members from a school before it was destroyed.
Prabesh Nagarkoti rescued his mother and six others, including four strangers, by guiding them to higher ground.
Bus driver Chhiring Tamang saved all 50 children aboard his bus by crossing a bridge shortly before it collapsed.
Youth Initiative volunteers created a solar-powered charging and communications station for families affected by outages.
- Who
- Helicopter captain Priya Adhikari, school official Rajendra Dawadi, villager Prabesh Nagarkoti, bus driver Chhiring Tamang and Youth Initiative volunteers.
- What
- They rescued people, evacuated children, helped villagers reach safety and restored communication during devastating floods.
- When
- The flooding began on August 26; Adhikari conducted missions over six days.
- Where
- Flood-ravaged areas of Nepal, including the Trishuli Valley, Bidur and Angitar.
- Why
- Floodwater, mud and debris destroyed infrastructure, stranded residents and disrupted electricity and mobile communications.
- Disaster date
- August 26
- Helicopter missions
- Priya Adhikari flew nearly 100 rescue missions in six days.
- School evacuation
- More than 900 students and 16 staff members escaped before the school was destroyed.
- Children rescued
- Chhiring Tamang transported 50 children to higher ground.
- Village rescues
- Prabesh Nagarkoti helped seven people, including four strangers, reach safety.
- Communication aid
- Youth Initiative established a solar-powered phone-charging and information station.
- Reported impact
- Thousands were killed or reported missing, according to the article.