25 killed in heavy rains, flooding in central India

At least 25 people have been killed in heavy rains and flooding in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh which has seen heavy rains and flooding over the past few days, a local official said Saturday. The state's chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told the media in the state capital of Bhopal that the water level of the state's main river Narmada is still above the danger mark and a total of 38,200 people from 106 villages in six districts were affected due to the floods. While the state government has taken all possible steps to provide relief to them, two Air Force helicopters have been deployed to drop food packets and rescue people wherever required, Chouhan said Officials said more than 1,700 people were rescued by the authorities and shifted to safe places.