Panaji, Sep 19 (PTI): Goa, which has been witnessing torrential rains since yesterday, is likely to receive "heavy to very heavy" rainfall at certain places in the state in the next three days, according to Met department.

With the warning of torrential rains, the tourists as well as locals are warned against venturing into rivers and sea till September 21.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned the coastal state to be prepared to face any eventuality in the next three days.

"The Met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall between September 18 to 21 at few places and extremely heavy rainfall at some isolated places in the state," a release said .

The state government has warned people against venturing into rivers stating that water levels might rise suddenly due to heavy precipitation in their catchment areas.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Drishti Lifesaving Services, an agency which mans beaches in the state, has issued an advisory asking tourists to not enter sea near beaches.

"In the wake of the Met warning, the Drishti Lifesaving has asked locals as well as tourists not to venture into the sea or indulge in water sports of any kind over the next 96 hours as the weather and sea conditions are expected to be rough, and heavy showers are expected to continue for the next few days," he said.

Drishti's 600-strong lifeguard force mans beaches in North Goa and South Goa throughout the year.

"Owing to the prevailing weather conditions, red flags have been posted across all beaches indicating that these are strictly non-swim zones. It's advisable to steer clear of the high tide line in such circumstances. Even wading into the sea can be risky," the spokesman said.

It is a routine practice for the state government to ban swimming and all water sports near beaches during the monsoon months from June to September, as sea become extremely rough and choppy.

State Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar has warned people against entering rivers as the state has been receiving heavy rains since the last two days.

"Due to incessant rains all the dams in Goa, especially Selaulim, Anjunem , Amthane and Panchwadi, are filled and excess water is released in the rivers downstream.

"The public is hereby cautioned by Water Resources department not to venture into rivers especially downstream of the dams as sudden rise in the water level due to heavy precipitation in the catchment area is possible," the minister said in a release.