India, May 26 -- A group of villagers have been trapped in a flooded cave in central Laos since last week, with rescue operations underway to pull them out safely.

While the status of the seven people who are trapped remains unknown, the rescuers are in a critical phase, given that the villagers have been trapped their for a week now, the Associated Press reported.

Thai rescuers arrived at the site on Sunday to provide assistance, according to state-run Lao National Radio. According to one of the rescuers, the authorities had often warned villagers against entering the cave.

The group of eight villagers, who were from the Xaisomboun province in Laos, went inside the cave in central Xaysomboun province, about 125 kilometres (78 miles) n...