Thirty one persons were killed and nearly 10,000 were evacuated as several villages were inundated due to torrential rains triggered by the cyclonic storm in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Air Force helicopters have been pressed into service to rescue people from marooned villages.

However, unconfirmed reports from rain-battered coastal districts put the figure at 40.

West Godavari district bore the brunt accounting for 11 deaths, followed by Khammam (6), Warangal (5), Nalgonda 3,
Visakhapatnam [Images], Srikakulam and Guntur two each, official sources said.

Heavy rains, accompanied by gales reaching the speed of 70 kms per hour lashed coastal areas after the cyclonic storm hit the Andhra coast at Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district, the Met department said.

Moderate to heavy rains continued today in the coastal areas and also in Telangana region.

Normal life was thrown out of gear and rivers were in spate following heavy rains in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts, the sources said adding, the Collectors of coastal districts have been put on high alert.

So far, about 10,000 people were shifted to safer places and 15 relief camps have been set up in the coastal districts even as the administration has been asked to gear up for evacuation of more number of people from the rain-ravaged areas.

Several villages in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts were inundated by flood waters damaging crops and disrupting traffic and power supply.

According to a report from Srikakulam, seven villages were completely marooned and crops in over 50,000 acres of land were damaged in the north coastal district.

The water level in Godavari river was rising and crossed the 44.5 ft mark at the temple town of Bhadrachalam in Khammam district.

The Visakhapatnam District Collector Praveen Prakash said about 4,000 people from low-lying areas were evacuated and all the flights to and from Visakhapatnam have been cancelled.

The Bhubaneswar-Mumbai-Konark Express and Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin Link Express were also cancelled on Tuesday due to the heavy downpour and 'unavoidable circumstances' between Vijayawada and Kazipet stations of South Central railway.

While the 1020 Bhubaneswar-Mumbai Konark Express was scheduled to leave Bhubhaneswar at 1500 hours, the 8561 Visakhapatnam- Nizamuddin Link Express' departure time from Visakhapatnam was 1330 hours on Tuesday.

Similarly, two more long distance trains, 2703 Howrah- Secunderabad Falaknama Express and Muzaffarpur-Yasvantpur weekly express would be held up at Palasa and Berhampur respectively, the sources said.

Six fishermen were rescued in high seas by personnel of a company engaged in offshore drilling even as search is on for 19 others, official sources said on Tuesday.

The six fishermen were found drifting in their boat and were picked up by the personnel of the company working for the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Monday night, sources said. The revenue department officials in Bhubaneswar had earlier said the rig, located about 50 nautical miles from Puri, belonged to Reliance [Get Quote].

The government had no information about these six fishermen who had set out from the Penthakata area of Puri prior to formation of the depression over the sea. A chopper later flew the six fishermen to the Capital hospital for check-up.

The police sent them to Puri and their families were informed, sources said. The six have been identified as Gagei Gazia (28), Takala Srinu (26), Chepla Savi (23), Karabatu Nedu (21), Cherakula Bhalra Rao (21), and Mudulu Kasulu (18).

Though there were reports of about 25 fishermen from Puri missing in the sea, the revenue authorities said they had no such information till late Monday night.

The Orissa government has sought the help of the coast guard in tracing 19 missing fishermen who had gone to the sea on fishing expeditions a few days ago, the sources said.