KKH Blocked at Zaid Khar, Upper Kohistan After Flash Flood and Landslide

Karakoram Highway Blocked at Zaid Khar

Flash flooding and a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall have blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) at Zaid Khar in Upper Kohistan, leaving passengers stranded since last night. Long queues of vehicles have formed on both sides of the blockage, with stranded passengers urging authorities to clear the road and restore traffic as soon as possible.

What Happened

Heavy rainfall in the area triggered both flash flooding and a landslide at Zaid Khar, a section of the KKH within Upper Kohistan — part of the route many travelers pass through heading toward Chilas and onward into Gilgit-Baltistan. The combination of debris and floodwater has blocked the highway at this point, halting traffic in both directions.

Impact on Travelers

Passengers who were en route at the time of the blockage have now been stranded overnight, with vehicle queues building up on both sides as the road remains impassable. This stretch of the KKH, through Kohistan's steep and exposed terrain, is one of the sections most prone to monsoon-related disruption on the entire highway — a pattern we've covered in more detail in our Chilas / Lower KKH road update.

Advice for Travelers

If you're planning to travel along the KKH through Kohistan toward Chilas or Gilgit-Baltistan in the coming days:

• Do not attempt to travel toward this section until the blockage is officially confirmed cleared.
• Check current conditions before departure rather than relying on an earlier schedule.
• If you're already en route and approaching this area, avoid attempting to cross the blockage and follow instructions from local authorities on site.
• Keep sufficient fuel, water, and essential supplies on hand if travel through this stretch is unavoidable, given the uncertainty around clearance timing.
• Build extra buffer time into your itinerary, as monsoon-related blockages of this kind can take anywhere from several hours to a day or more to clear, depending on the scale of the debris and continued weather conditions.

For the latest verified status on this stretch of the highway, check the live KKH road status here.

Why This Section Is Vulnerable

Upper Kohistan sits within the lower, southern stretch of the Karakoram Highway, an area known for steep, loose slopes that become considerably more hazardous during monsoon season. Heavy rainfall in this terrain can trigger flash floods and landslides with little warning, which is why this section of the route sees a disproportionate share of the KKH's weather-related closures compared to stretches further north around Hunza.

A Developing Situation

This is an active, developing road situation. Clearance operations typically begin once weather conditions allow safe access for machinery and workers, and timing can vary considerably depending on the extent of the damage. This page will be updated as further information becomes available.

This is a developing story. For the latest verified road situation, check the live KKH road status page before traveling.

Reported by Muhammad Ali.