It was a pleasant morning surprise for people at Bilikere village in Hunsur taluk of Mysore when they found knee-deep water in the local Doddakere tank.
For, this water body, off the Mysore-Bantwal State highway, has had no water for the last 17 years.
As news about the tank filling up almost all of a sudden spread, people in Bilikere and nearby villages rushed to the tank by all means of transport possible to catch a glimpse of what appeared like four to five natural springs in the middle of the tank bed. Many said that divine grace had been bestowed on the village.
The rain on Sunday night contributed to the filling up of the tank.
But the showers were not heavy enough for the unprecedented flow here. It is said that the reasonably good amount of rainfall last year may have replenished the water table in the village, thus contributing to the water level going up in the tank.
Local legislator Manjunath had taken steps to implement lift irrigation for the fields in the village, through water sources in the nearby villages.
But the sudden flourish in the Doddakere tank has led to farmers beginning agriculture activities without waiting for the lift irrigation to take off.
Varadaraj, a local resident, said there was copious flow of water in the tanks of the nearby villages. The resultant increase in groundwater level has contributed to the water level rising in Doddakere, he said.
The percolation pits dug up in the village have also contributed to the flourish, by increasing the water table, Varadaraj said.