Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters have been deployed to rescue people in the flash floods caused by incessant rains battering Andhra Pradesh in which 17 people have been reported dead and over 100 washed away.

An IAF team conducted a daring rescue operation on Friday to save the lives of 10 people who were stranded in the swirling waters of the floods.

A video of a daring winching operation carried out by the IAF in rough weather shows men desperately clinging to a JCB earthmover amid the swift current of a swirling river that is overflowing due to the relentless downpour.

A man can be seen using a zipline after which he is rescued by IAF's Mi-17 helicopter while others wait for their turn to be rescued.

National and state disaster relief teams have been deployed to for rescue and relief work as many people have been stranded in the floods.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy over phone on Friday and enquired about the situation in the state. Today, the Chief Minister will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts, his office said.

Hundreds of pilgrims on their way to the temple town of Tirupati have also been stranded. Ghat road and walkways to Tirumala Hills that houses the temple have been closed.

The Swarnamukhi river on the outskirts of Tirupati is flooded and the reservoirs are overflowing. Three state transport buses have been marooned and 12 could not be rescued.

The floods have damaged the roads at many places and rail, road and air traffic have been hit.

The Rayalaseema region which includes Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantpur districts in the state has been the worst affected with rains lashing the area continuously since Thursday. The Cheyyuru river is overflowing.

Kadapa airport will remain closed till November 25.

Rains have caused disruptions in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala as well. In Kerala's the pilgrimage to Pamba and Sabarimala has been stopped because of the rising water level in the Pamba river.