BICHOLIM: High alert has been sounded in Keri and other nearby areas of Sanquelim town as water level in the Anjunem dam reached close to the danger mark on Friday evening.

According to sources, due to torrential rains for the past couple of days in the hilly area, the Anjunem dam water level has risen and it touched 89.34 meters on Friday evening; the dam capacity being water level of 93.20 meters.

Engineer of Water Resource Department in charge of Anjunem dam informed that with the water in dam is nearing the full capacity, and gates will be opened once water level touches 91 to 91.5 meters.

An alert has already been sounded in the nearby villages of Keri and Sanquelim area and mamlatdar of Bicholim, Disaster Management Cell, Bicholim have been instructed to keep the disaster controlling machinery ready, the engineer further informed.

He also said that there was incessant rains nearby hilly regions of Virdi village (Maharashtra–Goa border), which has led to the rise in water level in the Anjunem dam. 4 inches of rainfall has been recorded at Virdi during the last 24 hours.

Even though rains took respite on Friday evening at Keri, and Sanquelim, heavy downpour continued at Virdi and the hilly areas, he further said.