New Delhi: Eight people are washed away in a flash flood in a jungle river near Virudhunagar in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Sunday night.

Thousands of pilgrims proceeding to the Lord Shiva temple in Chathuragiri near Watrap in Virudhunagar to offer worship on the auspicious New-moon Day were trapped as the jungle river suddenly swelled into a raging torrent following incessant rains.

Heavy rain has led to flash flood and rescue operations are badly affected due to continuous rain. Thousands of pilgrims had thronged the Sundara Sandana Mahalingam Koil in Saduragiri temple to perform puja on the auspicious Amavasi day.

There was panic in the area as people lost contact with each other and were running for safety. Fire force men will be resuming the rescue operations today to save the trapped people.

Police team led by Virudhunagar Superintendent of Police Maheswaran and Madurai Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidari have rushed to the spot to oversee the rescue operations.

More than 2000 persons took shelter in the mandapam atop the hill near the temple. The death toll is likely to increase as there is no whereabouts about the eight people washed away by the flash flood.

Meanwhile, the meteorology office has forecast more rain in many parts of the state especially in the southern and interior parts of Tamil Nadu because of trough near Lakshadweep.