Ghandruk Road Reopens One-Way After Modi River Flood Washed Away Two Restaurants at Syauli Bazaar

Direct answer: The Birethanti–Ghandruk road — the main vehicle access to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek — was blocked by the Modi River flood and has now reopened for one-way operation. Two restaurants were swept away at Syauli Bazaar (Annapurna Rural Municipality-8, Kaski). Tourists and locals returning to Pokhara were temporarily stranded and later cleared by the District Security Committee.

What happened

According to Kantipur (English edition, reported by Deepak Pariyar, July 13, 2026), the Birethanti–Ghandruk road was blocked since Sunday after the Modi River flooded. The trigger was a flood in the Kimrung River that entered the Modi River; at Syauli Bazaar, two restaurants were washed away and the road was closed.

Tourists stranded, then cleared

When the road closed, tourists and locals heading back to Pokhara were stopped at Syauli Bazaar on the Ghandruk side. Among them were Indian, foreign and domestic tourists. On Monday, officials of the District Security Committee — led by Kaski Chief District Officer Kumaman Singh Gurung — reached Syauli Bazaar and took the initiative to temporarily reopen the road.

Current status

• The road is operating one-way only (temporary arrangement).
• It serves the Ghandruk–Annapurna Base Camp approach from the Pokhara side.
• Full two-way restoration depends on repairs after the flood; confirm live status before travel.

What this means for ABC trekkers

• Ghandruk is the road-head for the classic ABC approach. A one-way road adds delay to jeep transfers in and out.
• The walking trail is separate from the access road — the trek itself is not washed away — but drive-in/out timing is affected.
• Build buffer days and confirm the current one-way schedule with your licensed operator before departing Pokhara.
• If you are already on the trail, coordinate your exit via your guide; officials have been actively managing stranded travellers.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Annapurna Base Camp trek closed?
No. The walking route remains; only the access road was flood-damaged and is now one-way. The trek is open subject to trail conditions.

Was the road completely washed away?
Not entirely. It was blocked by the Modi River flood (two restaurants at Syauli Bazaar were lost); it has since reopened for one-way operation.

Can I still drive to Ghandruk?
One-way, on a temporary basis. Confirm the current direction/schedule with local authorities or your operator.

Key takeaways

• Birethanti–Ghandruk road blocked by Modi River flood; reopened one-way (Kantipur, July 13, 2026).
• Two restaurants washed away at Syauli Bazaar; tourists were briefly stranded and cleared by the District Security Committee.
• ABC trek route itself is intact; access-road transfers are delayed — build buffer days.
• Verify live road status with your operator before travelling in monsoon.

Reporting based on Kantipur (English edition), “One-way operation of Veerethanti-Ghandruk road,” by Deepak Pariyar, July 13, 2026. Lead photo: Bijay Chaurasia / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons (illustrative). TravellingNepal verifies all road-status claims against published sources; conditions in Nepal’s monsoon change rapidly — confirm with your operator before travel.