Nepal School Rebuilt with India Aid Seeks Higher Ground
· travel
The Himalayan Heartbreak: Nepal’s Flood-Hit School and the Quest for Higher Ground
The recent floods in Nepal’s Nuwakot district have left a trail of destruction in their wake, wiping out the 76-year-old Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School. Over 1,600 students were left without a place to learn, and international aid has been pledged, including a significant contribution from India.
The school’s principal, Rajendra Dawadi, is adamant that any rebuilding efforts must prioritize higher ground. His determination is understandable, given the traumatic experience of watching his school disappear in the floodwaters. Students echo his sentiment, describing the terror of seeing their playground washed away and struggling to come to terms with the loss of their beloved institution.
India’s role in supporting Nepal’s rebuilding efforts is also noteworthy. The Embassy of India provided significant assistance to the school after the 2015 earthquake, including constructing an 18-room block that was recently destroyed by the floods. Dawadi expressed hope that India would help re-establish his school, but it remains to be seen whether this aid will materialize.
The logistical challenges facing the school are daunting. With around 65-70% of its students living on one side of the Trishuli river and 30-35% on the other, connectivity has become a major hurdle. The destruction of river crossings has separated children who had studied together until just days ago. Dawadi suggests establishing a Bailey bridge would enable the school to restart soon.
The rebuilding effort raises questions about the long-term sustainability of Nepal’s infrastructure development. While aid from India and other international donors can provide temporary relief, it is crucial for Nepal to invest in its own resilience-building capacities. This includes prioritizing infrastructure projects that minimize risks associated with natural disasters and promoting community-based disaster risk reduction initiatives.
As the rebuilding process begins, Dawadi’s commitment to establishing a school on higher ground serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and preparedness in Nepal’s education sector. Compromises may be necessary, such as temporary learning arrangements or creative solutions for students separated by the river, but it is essential that the new school is designed with disaster resilience at its core.
The fate of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School is a stark reminder of the fragility of life in the Himalayas. As Nepal rebuilds and looks to the future, it would do well to remember the lessons of this disaster: that disaster preparedness and response must be integrated into every aspect of education infrastructure development, and investing in resilience-building capacities will ultimately save lives and strengthen communities for generations to come.
Reader Views
- MJMara J. · long-term traveler
The emphasis on rebuilding Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School on higher ground is understandable, but let's not overlook the pressing issue of long-term flood resilience in Nepal's infrastructure development. The country has a history of devastating floods and earthquakes, yet progress toward making its buildings and roads more resilient to natural disasters is sluggish. Indian aid is welcome, but it would be shortsighted to rely solely on foreign assistance without addressing systemic weaknesses in Nepal's construction standards and disaster preparedness plans.
- IRIván R. · tour guide
The challenge of rebuilding Nepal's Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School is as much about resilience as it is about logistics. The article highlights India's aid in supporting the school's reconstruction, but what's striking is the mismatch between the scale of the disaster and the limited capacity to address its underlying causes. With frequent flooding and landslides, can Nepal truly afford to rebuild on lower-lying land? Donors like India should consider not just the immediate needs, but also how they can support long-term adaptation measures that prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure.
- TCThe Compass Desk · editorial
The Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School's quest for higher ground raises more than just engineering challenges. It also highlights Nepal's endemic problem of spatial inequality, where schools are often built in low-lying areas that are susceptible to flooding. Rather than rebuilding on higher ground, a more sustainable solution would be to invest in flood-resilient infrastructure that can withstand the frequent natural disasters plaguing the region. By prioritizing short-term fixes over long-term solutions, Nepal risks perpetuating the cycle of disaster and reconstruction, rather than truly building back better.