A helicopter was pressed into service to rescue others who were trapped on two big rocks in the water downstream.
Five holidaymakers have swept away while bathing near Sultangarh Waterfall in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Twenty-seven others were stranded on rocks downstream, and eight of them have been rescued so far, police said, adding that a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had reached the spot.
The waterfall is located in Subhashpura area bordering Gwalior district.
"It is feared that five persons were swept away," said district Superintendent of Police R Hingankar.
A helicopter was pressed into service to rescue others who were trapped on two big rocks in the water downstream.
The waterfall is near Mohana village, 55 km from the district headquarters.
There was a sudden surge in the water around 4.30 pm, possibly due to heavy rain upstream, catching those bathing near the waterfall unawares, police said.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in a tweet that efforts were on to rescue those stranded, and he was in constant touch with local officials.
Eight of the 27 stranded persons have been rescued, Shivpuri Collector Shilpa Gupta told PTI over phone from the spot.
Tourists thronged the place today due to the Independence Day holiday.
Singh Chouhan spoke to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking help for rescue operations, news agency ANI reported.
"Spoke to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri @ChouhanShivraj regarding the situation in Shivpuri district. NDRF has already been pressed into service to save those who are stranded. The efforts are on to save everyone. I have assured him of all possible assistance from the Centre," Rajnath Singh tweeted.
(With agency inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "5 feared drowned during Independence Day picnic near waterfall in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}