Kolkata faced its heaviest rainfall in nearly 40 years, triggering a severe College Street flood that devastated the city’s famous book market. Floodwaters inundated most shops, destroying books valued at Rs 2-3 crore and leaving publishers and vendors scrambling to recover.
Between late Monday and early Tuesday, the city recorded 251.4 mm of rainfall, overwhelming drainage systems. At least 11 people died in rain-related accidents, and road and home damages were widespread.
Tridib Chattopadhyay, secretary of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, reported losses of around Rs 10-12 lakh in his shop, while Sudipta Dey of Deys’ Publishing said more than 500 books worth Rs 8 lakh were damaged. Many unorganised street vendors, operating without formal structures, suffered total inventory losses and have no access to compensation.
The timing of this disaster is especially difficult, coming just before Durga Puja, a peak season for book sales. The literary community is now faced with unprecedented challenges, trying to salvage stock and recover financially.
Kolkata’s College Street flood highlights the vulnerability of the city’s markets to extreme weather events. Traders, publishers, and vendors are seeking support and solutions to mitigate losses and prevent similar disasters in the future.
