Summary
Content
27/01/06
| Route | Starting Point |
Ending Point |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley: Jelhum Valley | Muzzaffarabad | Pathika | ||
| Lat (N/S Decimal Degrees) | N 34 21.790' | N 34 26.673 | ||
| Long (E/W Decimal Degrees) | E 73 28.124' | E 073 33.167 | ||
| Total Distance - one way: 11.1 km | 00 km | 11.1 km | ||
| Time taken for assessment | 11:10 hours | 14:20 hrs | ||
| Time - one way without stops | 01 hr 25 minutes | |||
| Passable over full distance | Car | 4WD | Truck | |
| YES | YES | YES (with difficulty) | ||
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
On 27 January 2006 a road assessment was carried out on the Muzaffarabad - Pathika rout. After a long period of closure, due to multiple landslides and dangerous terrain, the Muzaffarabad - Pathika rout is now open.
The road is narrow, unpaved and a single lane. It is windy at some points with very steep edges that descend into the NEELUM VALLEY. Several points on the road have recurring landslides, particularly the stretch from 3.6 to 5.4km out of Muzaffarabad. The high grounds on the sides of the road are of loose hanging soil and rocks which could become problematic at any time. This condition could be made worse in the event of rainfall. Wheel traction will be poor after rains. There are other areas where portions of the road have collapsed (5-8 and 7-3km from Muzaffarabad) and the road is so narrow that only one vehicle at a time can pass through.
In view of the observations above, it is recommended that Road Muzaffarabad -Pathika should remain closed until further repairs and subsequent assessments indicate an improvement. It may however be used in times of extreme emergencies.