A popular independent bookstore in Bengaluruâs Church Street, The Bookworm, suffered major losses after heavy rainfall on Wednesday led to severe flooding inside the store. Around 4,000 to 5,000 books were damaged when water entered the premises, submerging large parts of the stock, with images shared by the store showing books floating in water and hailstones outside the shop area
The store had recently stocked additional books ahead of the summer holiday season, which is usually a peak sales period. Most of this newly arrived stock was also affected in the flooding incident, increasing the scale of the loss.
Social media users and members of the reading community responded with widespread support after the incident, with many expressing concern and offering help to the bookstore following the loss of thousands of books during the flooding situation in Bengaluru
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Flood damage at Church Street store
As per NDTV reports, the Bookworm bookstore located on Church Street was heavily affected when rainwater entered the shop during heavy rainfall. The flooding resulted in approximately 4,000 to 5,000 books being damaged, with visual evidence shared online showing books submerged in water and hail accumulation outside the store premises
After heavy rainfall damaged nearly 5,000 books inside The Bookworm shop Instagram_@thebookworm_blr
What the shop owner said
The owner, Krishna, told Deccan Herald that the shop had recently stocked extra books ahead of the summer holidays, which is usually a busy season for the business. Most of this new stock was also damaged in the flooding.
He said the store will try to save some books by drying them in sunlight and selling them at lower prices. However, many books are too damaged to be recovered and will have to be thrown away. He also said that modern publishing methods contributed to the loss, as many publishers now use recycled paper, which is weaker and easily damaged by water.
He added that some books, like illustrated comics such as Asterix and Obelix, printed on oil-based paper, were completely destroyed and could not be saved.
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Community response and recovery efforts
The photographs shared by the store led to a strong response on social media, where many users expressed sadness and offered support. Several people encouraged the reading community to help by purchasing the damaged books from the shop.
One user compared the situation to the flooding of Kolkataâs College Street booksellers last year, when a âWet Book Fairâ was organised, attracting large crowds who bought flood-damaged books in a show of solidarity. Others said they were willing to buy even soiled books, stating they wanted to support the recovery of a bookstore that serves many readers.
The owner has stated that efforts will be made to save and sell some of the damaged books, but a large portion has been declared unusable due to water damage. The incident has also received strong attention on social media, where readers and supporters have shown solidarity and offered help to support the bookstore in recovering from the losses.
