Eighteen people were killed in flash floods and heavy rains that lashed four south coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh during the last five days, official sources said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of tanks either collapsed or suffered extensive damage while road and rail networks were damaged as widespread rains disrupted normal life in the rain affected districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Kadapah and Chittoor, they said.

The worst affected Nellore district reported 12 deaths, including seven persons travelling in two vehicles, who were washed away in flash floods while two persons drowned in Kadapah district, officials said.

Three others travelling in a trapped bus in swirling water went missing in Kadapa district, they added.

Tourism Minister A Ramnarayan Reddy, who hails from Nellore district, has cancelled his foreign tour and rushed to the district to supervise rescue and rehabilitation works.