A father came out of breath at a school in Nepal. He came to pick up his daughter because he was convinced that a great flood was coming.
It was Wednesday at Trishuli Bazar when Rajendra Dawadi received several warnings of an imminent danger. Among these there was also that of a parent who came in person to school to take away his daughter.
Dawadi had very little time to decide.
And he decided to act.
He ordered the evacuation of nearly 900 students in the school, leading them to a higher area. The bus drivers were also warned to go back to the institute.
Very little time later the water arrived.
The fury of the full overwhelmed the area. A hostel building located just 100 metres from the river was quickly invested. The school was also devastated and covered with mud and debris.
But the students had already been evacuated.
Among them was Yunisha Amatya, 16 years old.
While evacuation saved hundreds of boys, his family was experiencing moments of distress.
The father, Yubaraj Amatya, ran to the school fearing he arrived too late.
For almost an hour he couldn't get in touch with Yunisha. Her mother, Sabina Kumari Shrestha, was desperately trying to hear from her.
Then, finally, they could hear it.
The flood had devastating consequences: according to the budget communicated by the Nepalese authorities on 29 August, 2.426 people were still dispersed.
Yet something happened in that school that shows how decisive a choice could be made at the right time.
Rajendra Dawadi had received several warnings and, faced with the concrete possibility of a catastrophe, decided to evacuate immediately.
When water reached the school, almost 900 students had already been brought to a safer place.
Sometimes, between a warning and a tragedy there are only a few minutes.
On Wednesday, someone decided not to waste one.