BP Highway Blocked After Rains Sweep Away Diversions in Kavre — What Trekkers to Manthali and Lukla Should Know

Direct answer: The BP Highway was blocked after heavy rain washed away multiple diversion points along the Katunje–Mangaltar stretch in Kavre, halting traffic and stranding vehicles, according to The Kathmandu Post. This matters to trekkers because the BP Highway is the road corridor to Manthali (Ramechhap) — the airport most Everest-region flights now use instead of Kathmandu. Any blockage here can disrupt the pre-dawn transfer to Lukla flights.

What happened

Reporting by The Kathmandu Post (Jyoti Shrestha, published April 19, 2026) states that traffic on the BP Highway was halted from 11 pm on Saturday after several diversion points along the Katunje–Mangaltar section were swept away by rain, leaving vehicles stranded at multiple spots. A follow-up report on May 18, 2026 noted that even moderate rain washes away the diversion structures on this highway — a recurring vulnerability during the wet season.

Why this matters for trekkers

Most Lukla-bound flights now operate from Manthali Airport (Ramechhap), reached by a 4–5 hour drive east from Kathmandu that uses the BP Highway corridor through Kavre. When the highway is blocked:

• The pre-dawn road transfer to catch early Manthali–Lukla flights is delayed or rerouted.
• Trekkers may miss their flight window; buffer days become essential.
• Operators typically shift to alternative routes or hold passengers until clearance — confirm with your licensed operator.

Current status (verify before you travel)

The Kathmandu Post has documented repeated BP Highway disruptions through the 2026 pre-monsoon and monsoon period, including a precedent of the highway being closed to traffic at night until mid-October. Road conditions in Nepal’s monsoon change by the hour. Confirm live status with your trek operator, the Department of Tourism, or local police before setting out.

Reported but unverified: Ghandruk road damage

Some social-media reports claim the road to Ghandruk (the gateway to the Annapurna Base Camp trek) was washed away by flooding. TravellingNepal could not independently verify this from a reputable news source at the time of publishing. We are treating it as unconfirmed and will update this article if an official source (e.g. Gandaki Province authorities or a major Nepali outlet) confirms it. Trekkers planning the Ghandruk/ABC route should check with their operator and local authorities.

Frequently asked questions

Is the BP Highway open right now?
Status changes frequently in monsoon. Verify with your operator or local authorities before travel — do not rely on this article for live conditions.

Will a BP Highway blockage stop my Lukla flight?
Not directly — flights depart from Manthali, not the highway. But the road transfer to Manthali can be delayed, risking a missed flight. Build buffer days.

Is there an alternative route to Manthali?
Operators use alternate corridors when the BP Highway is closed, but they add time. Confirm the plan with your operator.

Key takeaways

• BP Highway (Katunje–Mangaltar, Kavre) has been repeatedly blocked by rain washing away diversions — confirmed by The Kathmandu Post (Apr–May 2026).
• This is the road link to Manthali, the main Lukla-flight gateway; blockages can delay trekker transfers.
• Ghandruk road-washout reports are unverified — awaiting official confirmation.
• Always confirm live road status with your operator before travelling in monsoon.

Reporting based on The Kathmandu Post coverage (April 19 & May 18, 2026). Lead photo by Krish Dulal, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. TravellingNepal has not independently verified the Ghandruk road report and will update if confirmed.