On the night of March 10, 2025, a landslide has blocked all traffic on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) near Lotar in Upper Kohistan.
Police officials report that the blockage has isolated Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Kohistan from the rest of Pakistan. Hundreds of travelers are stranded on both sides of this critical international route, and the extent of the debris is hindering clearance efforts.
Upper Kohistan’s Minhajuddin confirmed the road closure, noting a 100-meter stretch is buried under large boulders. “A single machine can’t clear it by tonight,” he said. Diamer’s Abdul Khaliq added that police are redirecting travelers to wait in Chilas city. Locals and officials are providing Iftari to those stuck, marking the fifth KKH blockage in 10 days. Clearance work continues, but progress is slow.
This isn’t the first disruption. Last week, the KKH reopened after a similar landslide linked to the Dasu hydropower project. Earlier this month, two brothers died at Lotar when a slide hit their vehicle. Heavy rains last month also triggered multiple blockages. With travelers in limbo, the recurring landslides spotlight ongoing safety and infrastructure challenges on this critical route.
