Hundreds of commuters were stranded Tuesday in different parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana region as heavy rains and floods crippled the transport system.

As floodwaters damaged the road and rail network in six districts, authorities were forced to cancel bus and train services, especially in coastal districts and between the state capital and the coastal region.

State-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) cancelled bus services in parts of Khammam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Warangal districts. Hundreds of passengers were stuck at bus stations there.

Train services were badly hit due to the damage to railway tracks in Warangal, Khammam and Krishna districts.

South Central Railway cancelled several trains between Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Vijayawada and other coastal cities.

Long-distance trains between Chennai and Delhi and between other north and south Indian cities were cancelled, diverted or rescheduled. Among the cancelled trains were the Visakhapatnam-Nizamuddin Link Express, Chennai-Hyderabad and Chennai-Delhi Express.

All flights from Visakhapatnam were cancelled for the second consecutive day as incessant rain submerged the runway and other parts of the airport.

The heavy downpour, triggered by a cyclonic storm that crossed the coast in Srikakulam district Monday, left a trail of destruction in north coastal Andhra and claimed six lives.

Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service Tuesday to rescue people marooned in Andhra Pradesh's coastal areas.