KKH, Chitral and Neelum Road Risk in November 2026: NDMA's Landslide and Snow Hotspot List for Every Corridor

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has named the mountain roads most at risk of landslides and snow blockage in November 2026: the Lotkoh road (N-145) and Chitral roads (N-45, N-140) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Karakoram Highway through Upper Kohistan and Chilas, the Ghizer roads to Phandar, Gupis, Yasin and Ishkoman in Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Kohala, Chakothi, Leepa and Neelum roads in Azad Kashmir. Snow cover is expected to become persistent across Gilgit-Baltistan and Upper Chitral this month.

The list comes from the NDMA's Disaster Early Warning outlook for October to December 2026, which we read in full on 1 November. Below is every November hotspot by region, what the snow outlook adds, the passes it flagged earlier, and how to check a road before you set off.

November 2026 landslide hotspots in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the NDMA expects very high landslide risk around Lotkoh on the N-145, Chitral on the N-45 and N-140, and Bahrain on the N-95 in Swat. The Karakoram Highway through Pattan and Upper Kohistan, between RD200 and RD260, is a high-priority stretch.

RD means reduced distance, the kilometre markers along a highway, so RD200 to RD260 is a 60 km section. The NDMA says rain will stay the main trigger at low and middle heights in November, while freeze and thaw starts to loosen rock higher up. Steep road cuts in narrow valleys are where it expects slips.

Gilgit-Baltistan's Ghizer and Diamer roads lead the list

In Gilgit-Baltistan the NDMA puts the Ghizer to Diamer transport belt first: Phandar and Gupis on the N-140, Yasin and Ishkoman carry very high risk. Darel and the Karakoram Highway through Harban, Basha and Chilas, between RD240 and RD340, are high-priority corridors.

These western valleys are also sensitive to the switch from rain to cold, the report says. For travellers that means a sunny day after a wet one is not automatically safe, because loosened rock can fall once it freezes and thaws. Our advice: if you are driving the KKH past Chilas, start early so you clear the risky sections in daylight.

Azad Kashmir's Neelum and Leepa roads carry very high risk

In Azad Kashmir the NDMA's main concern is the Muzaffarabad, Hattian Bala, Leepa and Neelum road network. It lists very high risk on the Kohala to Muzaffarabad road (S-2), Muzaffarabad to Chakothi (S-3), Pir Chinasi Road, Hattian Bala to Bani Hafiz and Leepa Road.

Athmuqam and Sharda remain high-risk areas on the Neelum Valley roads, and higher sections face rain and snow mixing on already steep cuts. The NDMA also expects November to be wetter than normal around Muzaffarabad, which raises the chance of slips after each spell.

Snow will settle over Gilgit-Baltistan and Upper Chitral

The NDMA expects extensive, lasting snow cover across the high parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Upper Chitral in November, with plenty of snow on the high ground of northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. Repeated snowfall may raise avalanche risk and block roads.

It asks authorities to prioritise winter preparedness for high-altitude routes and settlements in Upper Chitral, Astore, Hunza, Ghanche, Ishkoman and Yasin. In October the same report named Babusar, Shandur, Deosai, Shounter and the Chitral mountain routes as passes where snow and rain could cause temporary closures. By December it expects persistent snow and the risk of longer road closures and isolated villages.

How to check a northern road before you travel

Read the PMD forecast for the days you travel, check the road's current status with the provincial or regional authorities, carry winter supplies, and save the emergency numbers for the area. Do not rely on the seasonal list alone.

1. Check the PMD forecast. Its weekly outlook issued 31 October expects light rain and mountain snow in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Neelum and Muzaffarabad on 2 to 4 November, and thunderstorms in upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on 5 and 6 November.
2. Check the road itself; for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa routes the steps to check KP road status for Naran, Swat and Chitral list the official channels.
3. Read the short-range snowfall forecast for Murree, Naran and Hunza before a pass crossing.
4. Pack the car using the NDMA winter car checklist: fuel, warm clothes, food, water and a charged phone.
5. Save Rescue 1122 numbers for Gilgit and Skardu before you lose signal.

This is a seasonal risk map, not a closure notice. A road on the list may be open all month, and a road off it can still be blocked by one storm. Treat it as a reason to check, not a reason to cancel.

Common questions

Is the Karakoram Highway safe in November 2026?

The NDMA lists the Kohistan and Chilas stretches as high-priority landslide corridors this month. Check the road's live status and the forecast on the day you travel.

Which Chitral roads are at risk?

The NDMA names Lotkoh on the N-145 and Chitral on the N-45 and N-140 as very high risk in November.

Is the Neelum Valley road at risk?

Yes. Athmuqam and Sharda on the Neelum roads are high risk, and the Kohala, Chakothi and Leepa roads are very high risk.

Will Babusar Top close in November?

The NDMA flagged Babusar for possible temporary snow closures. It gives no closure date, so check before travelling.

What does RD mean on the KKH?

Reduced distance, the kilometre markers along the highway. RD240 to RD340 is a 100 km stretch around Chilas.

Where will snow settle first this winter?

On the high ground of Gilgit-Baltistan and Upper Chitral, then northern KP and Azad Kashmir, the NDMA says.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 1 November 2026. The hotspots and snow outlook come from the landslide and snowfall sections of the NDMA's Disaster Early Warning outlook for October to December 2026, read on 1 November. The short-range weather is from the PMD weekly outlook issued 31 October. We did not check the live status of any road; this page lists risk, not closures.