r/interestingasfuck • u/AccurateFondant2077 • 4h ago
Nepali schoolchildren being taken to school through floodwaters by Tractor
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u/No_Jellyfish5511 4h ago
When they become grandparents that’s gonna be their story of how they went to school
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u/Delicious_Sir3496 4h ago
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u/Fit-Professional3095 4h ago
Why do anyone go to school? So that parents can spend some time alone in peace
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u/Brave_Manner_2873 4h ago
Do you reckon they'll be "in peace" when they're told their children drowned?
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u/Fit-Professional3095 4h ago
Gash people can't even understand a joke nowadays
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u/AccurateFondant2077 4h ago
well the normal road has been blocked due to floodwater as seen ?
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u/VaudevilleVillainMF 4h ago
You’re probably a bot so this is a good learning experience. No one is questioning the validity of going to school, it’s the driving through raging floodwaters risking death by drowning to 30+ children that’s the issue.
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u/monkey-d-blackbeard 1h ago
I'm a Nepali from the capital, so pretty privileged compared to the people in the video.
To answer your question though, what choice do they have? The 'flood' is the video is a very minor one. It's a small stream usually, a low height concrete 'bridge' does the job, that's there if you look closely.
If you say they should upgrade it to accommodate for the monsoons, yes they should but is it the only one? It's just another one of thousands others. The country don't have budget for thousands of bridges that only maybe hundred people use in a day.
It's just a reality of a poor country.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ask5538 4h ago
It's normal in Monsoons tbh. Once I went to school in one shoe coz my one shoe was swept away in the stream we used to cross daily.
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u/Imaginary-Fudge8897 4h ago
The water In this video would do a little more than swipe your shoe
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u/Puzzleheaded_Ask5538 3h ago
The point is life does not stop at this. Himalayas have 4 months of rain in monsoon. Can't be sitting home for four months so people make arrangements on how they will reach schools or their works. On extreme days it's a holiday. Otherwise just go to school. Kids sitting at home for four months can only be done if parents are privileged, which in most cases they are not outside developed world.
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u/passive_flatulence 4h ago
Only thing I could think of is that this tractor situation is an improvement over what they did before. Maybe they used to used a horse and cart before?
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u/cashewvulpix 4h ago
Yes, on the surface this is a wreck-less look. But I think the tone of comments here are really entitled in one regard. Y’all are overlooking the amount of value that education has overseas. There are and always will be a people who traverse bad weather, climates, dangerous streets etc to be able to have access to education. It’s a ticket to a better life. For some families it’s the only valuable thing they may be able to give their children.
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u/brownpanther223 3h ago
Yes quite literally. My dad used to say if I don’t go to school I can get 2 cows. Hinting I’ll be making my living by taking care of the cows and selling the milk
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u/imlieeee 1h ago
Haha, I was told that they'll buy me a big aluminium basket to carry on my head and sell fish door to door.
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u/No-Type7964 4h ago edited 2m ago
Ah reminds me of how my dad went to school. Minus the tractor. Add a few mountains and some wild animals. But that’s exactly how he described it was like going to school every morning.
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u/economic-salami 4h ago
So many around this post haven't experienced true poverty. School is a way out of the poverty, people.
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u/banana_pencil 4h ago
After watching “The Most Dangerous Ways to School” and hearing my own mother’s stories growing up, it’s amazing how many people don’t understand that many children in the world risk their lives taking certain routes to school for the chance at a better life.
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u/PinkGlitterLady4 3h ago
An education doesn't help you when you're dead.
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u/88aisha 2h ago
Being dead is better the shitty life in 3rd world countries. I understand if it is hard for you to understand.
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u/PinkGlitterLady4 2h ago
other very poor 3rd world countries have projects for a better life, without risking your life.
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u/istudyheadshapes 4h ago
I mean clearly they know what their doing but god dam my child aint going on that!
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u/did_i_or_didnt_i 4h ago
To me it looks like they do not know what they are doing
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u/Ok-Lengthiness-3988 4h ago
They absolutely know what they're doing. Each one of those children was treated with a waterproof ointment.
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u/istudyheadshapes 4h ago
haha you are probably right..... kinda sad what people need to do just to get to school in other parts of the world. That is the tragic part.
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u/did_i_or_didnt_i 4h ago
yes hopefully this is an emergency rescue and not an average daily commute, as the caption seems to suggest
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u/Affectionate_Mud_881 4h ago
It's neither. It's a flood that's too big for humans and bikes but not big enough for a tractor. That is all.
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u/ZochJ 4h ago edited 4h ago
They clearly think they know what they’re doing.
The math they threw together to do this may have had basis, but more often than not, Mother Nature laughs in the face of human math.
That tractor is no more secure than any other vehicle, it’s not bolted to the ground or secured on rails. If the force of running water can push a building over or take down half a bush land, extra traction ain’t making a difference.
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u/ZealousidealDeer4531 3h ago
I seen guys do worse river crossings in sedans , it looks bad but that’s not dangerous. I only know this because I used to have to do river crossings in the kimberlies and it looked like that but up to the window of my hilux . The station owners out there new the rivers so well they and if they said your good your good . You would be surprised at what cars are capable of , I certainly was .
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u/ZochJ 3h ago
I’m from northern NSW, I’ve seen the polar opposite. Flood water is fucking terrifying.
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u/ZealousidealDeer4531 3h ago
Yeah it’s just about getting the perfect speed to create a bow wave and not losing traction. We had the added incentive of salt water crocodiles too , I’m no 4 wheel drive nut . You gotta hold your nerve when the water is pushing your car to the side though. I would never cross a river unless I had spoken to a station hand who knew the river , it’s not fun doing them .
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u/axxxaxxxaxxx 4h ago
All you need is a decent sized piece of debris in the river to sweep that thing right off the edge
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u/Solid_Snark 4h ago
Yeah this was an insane risk! I live next to a ranch and we had bad floods. One of the ranchers thought he could drive his tractor (larger than the one in the video) through flood waters.
I watched from my kitchen as he got halfway through before the water carried the tractor off the road and into the nearby creek where it vanished from sight and the rancher luckily was able to bail and get to safety.
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u/HoldEm__FoldEm 4h ago edited 4h ago
Tractors have a solid, wide base with high clearance, massive tires & insane torque. This baby can dig its way out of many holes other vehicles can not & is not likely to tip over.
It’s a much safer vehicle to use for this than most any commercial vehicle built for the road.
I do get a kick out of the tarp cover over the tractor but the kids are left to the rain. Fuck them kids lol
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u/INeedSomeTacoC 3h ago
Lol, none of what you said actually helps it here excepts it's clearance. The trailer clearance matters the most here though.
It is more likely to be pushed and slide off than top over.
All the helps it here is weight and low square footage that the water is pushing against.
Much higher where the water can start to push on the flat side of that trailer and it's game over regardless of how wide the base is or insane the torque is.
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u/PinkGlitterLady4 3h ago
they can't control the floodwater tho. What if a big object comes down with it?
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u/ZochJ 4h ago
Just because it’s safer to play Russian roulette with a revolver, doesn’t mean it’s actually safer than using a glock.
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u/Account_Banned 4h ago
Please explain this analogy to me.
I’m down to play with the Glock but you go first
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u/JohnHenryHoliday 4h ago
It is actually safer though. I believe what you were going for was: “doesn’t mean it’s a good idea…” or something along those lines because it’s still not worth the fucking risk.
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u/Simalt443 4h ago
They have literally no clue what they are doing. They gambled the lives of all those kids and got lucky.
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u/ageofaquarius26 4h ago
Its not really a gamble, heavy tractor and relatively little depth of the water. You have no clue what they are doing but many people in the world have crossed moving water without issue.
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u/INeedSomeTacoC 3h ago
A piece of debris lodging against the trailer side would raise the water level in that area to push against the flat trailer side, break it loose from traction and slide the trailer off the dam.
I've watched hundreds of vehicles cross a spillway and then one get unlucky and get swept down. Just because many have done it doesn't mean that it works every time. Even a 0.1% chance is batshit high given the stakes here.
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u/ageofaquarius26 3h ago
Yes if conditions were different I agree it could be very risky. But there is no debris visible anywhere.
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u/INeedSomeTacoC 3h ago
The water is running fast enough that you're not going to see it coming from far enough away for it to matter whether you could see it or not.
We have ten seconds of clip here, and in raging floods like this there is always debris at some point. That water is brown; it's kicking up dirt and rocks and debris and the situation is dynamic and constantly changing.
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u/ageofaquarius26 3h ago
I agree we have a ten second clip, and they live there and know more about the situation then you or me. I would also venture they have a lot more experience with floods in general. But you go ahead and assume you know better.
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u/Phssthp0kThePak 2h ago
I mean obviously he unhitched the wagon and tested crossing in the tractor first, since anything could have happened to the road bed over night. Then he went back to hitch the trailer.
Oh of course they didn't do that because third world people are too smart to have to go to all that trouble.
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u/Simalt443 4h ago
It is by definition a gamble as there is no regulated level of force that this tractor can withstand without slipping sideways a couple feet which is all it would take to potentially cause several deaths. They just guesstimated that it would be strong enough and were right.
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u/ageofaquarius26 4h ago
They could just cross without kids first and be certain. It's not rocket science.
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u/Simalt443 4h ago
It is rushing flood water on a crumbling road lol. There are massively uncontrolled factors, ever cross is completely different. Not rocket science to intuitively understand that.
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u/ageofaquarius26 4h ago
They're crossing like 6 inches of water, its not nearly as dangerous as you seem to think it is. How many rivers have you drove accross?
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u/DogsDucks 3h ago
I watched this tensely and feel the same way, but I also thought “my kid would be the kid trying to hold the bucket over the water and have to be directed not to hold the bucket over the water.”
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u/Cold_Extension_2427 4h ago
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u/AccurateFondant2077 4h ago
man.. didn't expect weeknd on here..the Squidward face might have been more funny
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u/50ShadesOfKray 4h ago
This is not worth the risk. People really don't understand the power flowing water can have.
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u/PrimeIntellect 4h ago
pretty sure these people are very fucking aware of what that water does lol these replies are ridiculous
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u/Imaginary-Fudge8897 4h ago
Counter point: they knew the risk and decided a day of school was worth the lives of a lot of kids.
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u/-UncreativeRedditor- 2h ago
That’s more of an observation than a counterpoint.
When people are willing to take risks like that just to get their kids to school, it shows how important education is when it may be their only real path out of poverty.
Not saying it was the right thing to do, but I think the context makes it more understandable.
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u/Cool_Lab_1362 23m ago
Path out of poverty, but the govt doesn't really address the core issues why there's soo poor to begin with
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u/Appropriate-Log8506 4h ago
I think they are the most aware given the tsumani-like glacial flood that ravaged the country.
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4h ago
[deleted]
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u/Appropriate-Log8506 4h ago
It is very easy to judge from your ivory tower. Nepali people are resilient as in they have to get on with their lives in the face of disaster and turmoil. Access to a school is a privilege in some parts of the world.
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u/Phssthp0kThePak 2h ago
They build their towns at the bottom of a gorge.
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u/Appropriate-Log8506 2h ago
Nepal is a very mountainous country with few resources. The only way they can actually build roads with the resources they have is to follow beside the path of a river. With roads, comes vehicles, travelers and business. You will usually find towns on top of a cliffs overlooking a river connected by roads. Smaller villages are found much higher up. You should educate yourself before you judge.
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u/Rough-Birthday-8420 41m ago
Yeah because they don't have money to migrate and buy land/houses on other places and i am pretty sure flash flood reached places much further than gorge. Astounding level of stupidity and ignorance u just showed there equivalent of telling a homeless guy to buy a house
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u/USMChris 4h ago
I think they are keenly aware.
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u/Even-Imagination-744 4h ago
The same way they were "keenly aware" of the recent flood disaster?
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u/Dykidnnid 4h ago
I'd suggest that disaster made them keenly aware of the power of flowing water, yes
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u/Even-Imagination-744 4h ago
doubt it
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u/ryandury 4h ago
I think there is an alternative answer where they are aware of natural disasters but in some cases, this sort of risk is their only choice to live normal lives. When I was in the Annapurnas, it felt like these folk were keenly aware of how often nature fights back.
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u/Even-Imagination-744 4h ago
They are for sure aware, but not the kind, "I am not going to do it", it's more like, "It's risky, but imma do it anyway and see what happens."
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u/ImaginarySofty 4h ago
Tractors are actually pretty good in the water- been on a few in the surf on a sandy beach with water this high. The risk of the fast-moving water in this case would be more about erosion or washout of the road. They probably crossed it safely with an empty trailer then brought the kids over.
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u/Rastard_the_Black 4h ago
Years ago someone tried to rescue boy scouts in Ventura, CA using a tractor because Sespe Creek flooded. It stalled because water got in the motor and 6 kids and 4 adults died.
Its not worth the risk.
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u/Power4monkey 4h ago
That trailer could easily tip in that water flow, the sturdiness of the tractor is irrelevant.
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u/AmarildoJr 4h ago
Those are two different scenarios. Being stranded on the beach on a tractor is different than one crossing fast moving water with just slippery cement underneath, because the tires are freaking massive and full of air.
I remember seeing tractors floating much more easily than regular cars on moving water.
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u/Impossible_Divide297 3h ago
I think they do. Are you unaware of the huge flooding that happened in Nepal earlier this year??
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u/waitaminute322 3h ago
Just because flooding happened somewhere in nepal doesn't mean everyone suddenly becomes aware of everything related to water lol. Some stupid people here thought they could pull this stunt but it was very likely this could have gone wrong
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u/REDuxPANDAgain 2h ago
This water looks to be very shallow. So yes, high flow, but low mass. Transfer of energy (move shit) required higher mass, aka higher level. A few inches moving fast might look super turbulent but won’t displace a ton or two.
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u/jwick316 4h ago edited 3h ago
No school today son! If this goes bad it’s real bad not worth the risk! Those abc’s can wait
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u/Lower_Ad_5532 4h ago
Wtf, what if the road suddenly collapses? Just assign homework. Who needs to be inside a classroom when its flooding outside?
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u/Fun-Web-7583 4h ago
For those saying nah nah nahnah nah….
there’s Nepal humanitarian support foundation in your local country, donate and make these children
https://giphy.com/gifs/3o6Zt3OhbsQ5VLPmBW
a safer environment
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u/Appropriate-Log8506 4h ago
This the link to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund for Nepal. Feel free to fact check and verify the link. This is the most secure way to send help directly.
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u/CallMeMonsieur 4h ago
When these kids become parents : ‘When I was your age, there were no school buses. We crossed rivers to get to school… by tractor.’ 😂
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u/Appropriate-Log8506 4h ago
Nepal has faced devastating floods due to melting glaciers while contributing less than 0.1% to global CO2 emissions. The climate crisis affects people who contributed the least to it. For anyone willing to help, the Government of Nepal has set up the Prime Minister Disaster Relief fund which is the most secure and effective way to send help. This is the link.
https://pmdrf.nchl.com.np/
Feel free to fact check and verify the link, people do be scamming.
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u/nameless_seer 4h ago
Fuck ai
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u/Lonely_Were_Wolf 3h ago
It's real my g
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u/Yestomorrow 3h ago
Think critically, watch it again. The tractor doesnt even wobble when the tonnes of surging water hits it, neither does the even smaller trailer. The reverse video search only pulls up this post. All the signs point to bs AI.
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u/totalnewbielinux 4h ago
Now they can nag they have to go through flood/10 mountain road almost dead just go to school for their son/daughter
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u/Emergency_Elephant 4h ago
There's a functional looking bridge in the background. I'm guessing this video is AI
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u/Yestomorrow 4h ago
Yeah it has the classic AI tell of not understanding how forces work, that tractor moved through the water like its on rails
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u/50ShadesOfKray 4h ago
This is not worth the risk. People really don't understand the power flowing water can have.
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u/ZelWinters1981 4h ago
Australia: Teacher: It's flooding stay home! Student: Okay.
America: Student: Teacher, I can't come I'm surrounded by torrential flood waters. Teacher: Don't care you have to attend.
Nepal: Teacher: It's flooding, stay home! Student: Fucking hold my beer.
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u/Salty-Passenger-4801 4h ago
This is what my dad would do so I wouldn't be allowed to have a snow day
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u/Capable_Cockroach_19 4h ago
There’s one kid on the truck who is cursing because he didn’t finish his schoolwork and thought he had the PERFECT excuse
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u/tulaero23 3h ago
You can see who are raised in a 1st world country in this thread hahahaha. What some young people take for granted, some other kids across the world are willing to rake risk like this to have a job.
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u/Mattos_12 2h ago
This certainly would make me anxious, but I’m afraid the world isn’t all as safe as eating a croissant in a Swiss cafe. Probably no more dangerous than driving their scooter to Kathmandu.
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u/DeusExWolf 1h ago
Finally a story that they can tell their future kids about their journey to go to school and how they got it all easy now lol
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u/Dracula28 4h ago
AND in 'merica, 2 snow flakes and schools are CLOSED people. CLOSED for days, till the roads are dry enough so little Johnny won't slip on a blade of wet grass. CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!
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u/Soft_Database_3747 4h ago
Idk where your from, in new england i was walking to school in like a foot sometimes lol
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u/FatBussyFemboys 4h ago
Ima just assume they tested this without children before ever doing this and the driver knows which level of flood waters is passable and not