The death toll due to the incessant rains lashing coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh for the past three days rose to 23 on Wednesday. The state government has taken up relief and rehabilitation measures on a war-footing, an official said.

Ten deaths were reported in East Godavari district followed by Prakasam (five), Guntur (four) and two each in Krishna and West Godavari districts, a spokesman of state relief commissioner said.

"We have evacuated 27,741 families from the coastal districts and set up 369 relief camps besides pressing 65 medical teams into service", he said.

Though enumeration process was in progress, initial reports suggest that about 2,721 houses, mostly in Prakasam district, were fully damaged while 18 minor irrigation sources were breached, the spokesman said.

Control Rooms were set up in all the coastal districts and the situation was being monitored round-the-clock, he said adding that additional medical teams were being sent to the affected areas.