Torrential rains on September 23 wreaked havoc across Kolkata's College Street, a renowned book hub. The Publishers and Booksellers Guild is currently assessing the damage to books worth lakhs of rupees just before Bengal's major festival, Durga Puja.

Guild executive Apu Dey, who is also associated with Dey's Publishing, stated that the damage surpassed that of Cyclone Amphan in 2020. The lack of warning about the intense downpour led to significant losses for both large and small publishers.

The calamity, which marked one of the heaviest rainfalls since 1986, severely disrupted life in Kolkata. The city's infrastructure was overwhelmed, impacting air, rail, and road transport as educational institutions closed, and Durga Puja holidays were brought forward.

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