NUWAKOT, Nepal — More than 370 students and teachers at Uttargaya Public School in Betrawati escaped a devastating flash flood on Wednesday after an unidentified passerby ran past the school shouting urgent warnings to evacuate.

The incident occurred as the Trishuli River swelled with heavy sediment and debris, cutting across roads and standard escape paths near Trishuli Bazaar. School activities had just commenced, with hostel students having breakfast, when the shout alerted the campus. There had been no prior sirens, automated warnings, or official emergency alerts.

Following the stranger's alert, students and staff fled toward the forested hill behind the school campus:

• Older pupils from Grades 7 to 10 evacuated on their own.
• Teachers and staff assisted younger children through the thick mud, carrying several in their arms.
• Students stayed on higher ground in the forest overnight before teachers could safely access food for them.

English teacher Somlal Dangol explained that nobody anticipated such a massive surge, which quickly blocked the main routes. Grade 10 student Sujal Lama noted that he avoided being caught by the waters after deciding to flee instead of heading to breakfast, while Class 8 student Rashmi Tamang described the difficult muddy climb uphill.

Tragedy struck one family when parent Nawaraj Tamang attempted to reach the school to locate his Grade 10 son, Ayush. After telling his mother, Mungsi Tamang, that he was going to fetch Ayush, Nawaraj was swept away by the floodwaters. Ayush survived by escaping into the forest.

Vice-principal Pawan Sharma reported that school records remained inaccessible and communication lines were heavily disrupted in the aftermath. Officials have handed over approximately 25 to 30 percent of the pupils directly to their parents, while efforts continue to trace other students. As of Sunday, no confirmed student fatalities had been released.