Bengaluru: The sudden hailstorm left more than just flooded streets in its wake — it struck at the heart of one of the city’s beloved literary corners. Bookworm, the iconic bookshop on Church Street, saw nearly 5,000 books destroyed after rainwater gushed into the shop within minutes.Recounting the ordeal, proprietor Krishna Gowda said the weather turned without warning. “At around 4.45pm, it began raining, and within moments, it became a hailstorm unlike anything I’ve seen in years. The hailstones clogged the drainage outlets, and almost instantly, water started pouring in from all sides,” he said. By 5.30pm, shelves that once held stories, ideas and memories were soaked, with thousands of books beyond repair.The loss goes beyond numbers. The damaged collection like The Penguin Book Of Indian Poets, Cubbon Park by Roopa Pai and Percy Jackson & the Olympians. The titles span history, philosophy, biographies and more that were carefully curated over time. While the financial hit is estimated at Rs 14 lakh, Gowda says the real loss is immeasurable. “Books carry knowledge, emotion and years of effort. That’s what hurts the most,” he added.
