Monsoon rains wreak havoc across Karnataka, causing floods, crop loss
Bengaluru: Heavy monsoon rains over the past few days have caused widespread flooding, crop destruction and disruption of normal life across several regions of Karnataka. Rivers and reservoirs are overflowing, roads have been cut off, and thousands of acres of farmland are under water, bringing severe distress to farmers and residents.
Large parts of Kalyana Karnataka, the coastal belt and Malnad region have been worst hit. In Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Bidar districts, continuous rainfall on Friday led to inundation of villages and farmland. In Jewargi taluk of Kalaburagi district, a farmer, Khaja Hussaini, suffered a major setback after 5,800 papaya trees on leased land were washed away, causing a loss of nearly ₹35 lakh. Cotton crops ready for harvest were also damaged in nearby villages.
The Bennethora reservoir released heavy outflow, submerging the Kalagi-Malghan bridge and cutting off traffic movement. Several villages, including Hale Hebbal, Kanasuru, Malghan, Tengali and Kalgurthi, were inundated. Waterlogging also forced authorities to declare a holiday at Donur Government High Primary School.
In Bidar, the overflowing Manjra and Karanja rivers entered farmlands and villages. District Minister Eshwar Khandre, who inspected affected areas in Bhalki, Aurad and Kamalnagar taluks, said crops on more than one lakh hectares have been damaged. He instructed officials to complete a crop loss survey within ten days and assured that farmers would be compensated.
Meanwhile, 55,512 cusecs of water was discharged from the Tungabhadra dam, prompting a flood alert in villages along the river. Several monuments in Hampi and Anegundi were inundated for the fifth time this season.
In coastal and Malnad Karnataka, heavy rain led to the release of 75,000 cusecs of water into the Sharavathi river from the Gerusoppa dam in Honnavar taluk of Uttara Kannada district. Residents were shifted to 15 relief centres. Traffic movement was hit in Bhatkal town due to waterlogging, while a section of the Gokarna-Sirsi state highway was damaged. A minor mudslide was also reported in Honnavar. Castle Rock in Uttara Kannada recorded 200 mm of rain within 24 hours on Friday.
Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts reported intermittent heavy showers. In Shivamogga district, the Linganamakki dam neared full capacity, leading to a rejuvenated Jog Falls. The Tunga, Bhadra and Mani reservoirs also approached maximum levels.
Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu too witnessed continuous downpours. Authorities in Kodagu declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Friday as a precautionary measure. Landslides forced the closure of the Thamarassery Ghat road to Wayanad, with vehicles diverted through alternate routes. Rainfall was recorded at 115 mm in Sampaje and 100 mm each in Bhagamandala and Virajpet over the past 24 hours.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
