Nepal earthquake: Ex-Pulteney Grammar student saves 55 orphans
A FORMER Pulteney Grammar student successfully evacuated 55 children from an orphanage in the hills near Kathmandu that was severely earthquake-damaged.
A FORMER Pulteney Grammar student is being hailed a hero for evacuating 55 children from a severely earthquake-damaged orphanage in the hills near Kathmandu.
Nepalese teenager Ishwor Ghimire studied at Pulteney on a full scholarship in 2013/14 and now mentors children at the orphanage while he prepares for university.
“This remarkable young man evacuated the 55 children to the veggie patch as both the orphanage building and the (neighbouring) new school building suffered significant damage and appeared in imminent danger of collapse,” Pulteney’s director of community relations, Mark Bourchier, wrote to the school community.
“A painter working on the roof of the new school was thrown two storeys to the ground, sustaining dreadful injuries. After initially dealing with his 55 frightened young charges, Ishwor managed to get him to the local hospital in a taxi.
“We should all be very proud of him.
“(Orphanage operator) Mother Rajan made her way back in the middle of the night and together they have kept the children safe and warm in the garden, sheltering under blankets. They did not sleep, as constant aftershocks frightened the children.”
The Pulteney community helped fund the school next to the orphanage that has also sustained serious damage.
The orphanage has rice and a supply of bottled water but very limited generator power.
Mr Bourchier said several Pulteney old scholars with army experience were trying to source tropical weather tents and a mobile water purifier and have them delivered as soon as possible.
Pulteney also has an ongoing relationship with the Blue Sky School in Kathmandu itself.
Blue Sky School headmaster Prem Oli posted online on Sunday afternoon: “Many buildings broke down. We are safe. We are sleeping in the open land whole night.”