Narain Singh Sambyal

Plans were prepared for the demolition of the Kohala Bridge and gaps in Muzaffarabad-Mansehra road by the explosives which were supposed to be arriving from India.

[2][3] On the unfortunate night of 21 October 1947 mixed 4th Battalion of Maharaja swept sides at Loharigali and Ramkot and created chaos within their defensive positions leading to burning of Muzaffarabad and Domel, by twilight the 6000 'qabalis' invaders joined Indian rioters, only the mortar garrison at Domel held their position in which only 15 men survived out of several companies till nightfall of 22 October 1947.

[8] Fighting bravely for every inch of land, Lt. Col Sambyal delayed enemy advance by two crucial days during which important decisions were taken.

According to the plan, 20 lashkars or qabalis (tribal militias), consisting of 1000 Pashtun tribesmen each, were to be recruited and armed at various brigade headquarters in the North-West Pakistan.

Instead Labh Singh's company chose to retreat to India along with refugees and reached Bagh at 1430 hours on 31 October 1947, after a seven-day grueling and harrowing experience.

Muzaffarabad is situated on the right bank of River Jhelum adjacent to the border with Pakistan . Opposite to it on the left bank of the river is situated Domel which is linked by road to Muzaffarabad, Loharigali and Ramkot on the Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) ’s border and thence to Mansehra and Abbottabad in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan through which passed the Rawalpindi - Srinagar road ( N-75 National Highway ).
Domel Toll Bridge:In 1947, it was an important customs check post at Domel which yielded revenue of nearly Rs 30,000 a day to the State.
Kohala Bridge :"Gateway of Kashmir" was opened in 1889 for Jhelum Valley Cart Road linking Kohala to Boniyar Baramulla . In 1897 it was extended to Srinagar ( S-2 Strategic Highway linking Kohala to Muzaffarabad ).