Indian Army officials Wednesday saved three people - two women and a man - trapped in the flooded Ghaggar river in this Haryana town, officials said.

According to a defence spokesperson, the two women, who live in a slum rehabilitation colony here, had gone to collect firewood near the river bed. But they were swept away by the sudden gush of water caused by heavy rains in the upstream areas in the morning.

'A man tried to save them but he also lost his balance and was trapped by the river currents. After receiving information, an army rescue party of 51 engineer regiment of the engineer brigade immediately reached the spot,' the spokesperson said.

'The soldiers quickly laid a safety rope and saved their lives,' he added.

Panchkula is around 10 km from the state capital Chandigarh.