‘She faints at sight of blood, how did she do this?’

Rai, a 23-year-old teacher with the Universal Education Scheme, had just returned from work around 3 pm when she saw the hill disintegrate. Through the rain, came the first terrified cries for help. Within the next quarter of an hour, Rai extricated the 10-year-old nephew and two children, age 5 and 7, of her neighbour Suryabali Pal; another neighbour, Sabikunissa, and her three children, age one, three and six; and another eight children and their mother, Rafia Khatun.

An overwhelmed Rafia could only say, later, ‘‘Had Premlata not been there, we would have died.’’

Rai’s heroism inspired others. Soon, locals helped 50 others escape.

‘‘She’s a very brave girl,’’ said Pal. ‘‘She took the lead when everyone else was wondering what to do.’’

Rai’s courage surprises mother Vimla. ‘‘My daughter faints at the very sight of blood,’’ she muses. ‘

‘How could she rescue 15 people in just fifteen minutes?’’

‘‘When the hill broke,’’ says Rai, ‘‘I could just hear the children screaming. All I could think of was: how do I save them?’’

But she is still distraught at four children she saw, scrabbling through the debris for help.

Before Rai could act, a mass of rubble simply buried them. Giant excavators are now at work, trying to dig out scores of trapped victims.