12 tourists washed away at waterfall in central India

NEW DELHI, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Around a dozen tourists were washed away and at least 30 others trapped inside a flooded waterfall in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh, local media reported.

Video showing the 30 people trapped inside the waterfall went viral in the country on Wednesday evening.

The tragedy took place in the Sultangarh waterfall in the state's Shivpuri district. An Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper rescued seven trapped people, while efforts were being made to rescue the others. A local district official was quoted as saying, "Rescue operation is on to save all the people trapped in the flooded waterfall."

According to media, strong wind coupled with poor light had been hampering the rescue operation.

Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying that a total of around 40 youths had gone to the waterfall for the picnic on Wednesday to celebrate the country's 72nd Independence Day. Out of them, 12 were swept away while taking bath under the waterfall when water in the nearby dam was suddenly released flooding the stream.

A video showing the youths being swept away in the flooded waterfall went viral on social media which later drew the attention of the local authorities towards the tragedy.