Hyderabad: Flight services were cancelled in the port city of Visakhapatnam today as heavy rains triggered by a low pressure area over Bay of Bengal continued to lash coastal regions Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day.

Twelve flights were cancelled as flood water entered the parking area and main entrance of the Visakhapatnam airport which has been witnessing frequent flooding in the last few years. The flights to different destinations will remain cancelled for the next 24 hours, officials said.

The coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, East Godavari and West Godavari bore the brunt of the rains with many residential localities and vast tracts of agricultural fields remaining inundated by knee-level water. The inflows into several reservoirs in Visakhapatnam increased manifold following which over 4000 cusecs of water was being released, the officials said.

In East Godavari district, 42,000 cusecs of water has been released from Yeleru project. Five persons, including a mother and her two children, were killed in rain-related incidents in Visakhapatnam yesterday. The state government today announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to kin of each of the deceased.

Meanwhile, a release from the office of the Relief Commissioner said widespread rainfall is likely in the coastal region in the next 24 hours. Nearly 20 relief camps have been set up in the affected areas. Control rooms have also been set up at the state, district and mandal levels even as District Collectors have been asked to remain alert, it said.