Sudden downpour damages books at ongoing annual fair

Chennai

The 39th edition of Chennai Book Fair organised at a makeshift tin structure proved to be ineffective to ward off the rain. Though there was the limited workforce present at the Island Grounds venue after the closing time, they still managed to save thousands of books. 

“A large number of books in over 30 stalls in first and last rows were damaged in the rain,” said G Olivannan, treasurer of Booksellers’ & Publishers’ Association of South India, organisers of the book fair. He said a few committee members and security guards at the venue spent a sleepless night to save the books.

“The exact estimate of loss for the publishers is yet to be ascertained but even if it is going to be Rs 50,000, it will be unbearable especially for the small publishers,” he said. The booksellers have now reiterated their long pending demand for a permanent and affordable structure to conduct the Chennai Book Fair, which is part of the city’s notable events. 

The organiser also pointed out that it is not feasible for them to organise book fairs at venues such as Chennai Trade Centre as the cost will be high. It may be recalled that this annual book fair usually organised in January was postponed to June this year due to December floods. Haran Prasanna, Manager of New Horizon Media, said that when the rains intensified it poured through the tin roof in few places. “Right now we request the public to come in large numbers to buy the books at the fair so that the publishers can at least minimise the loss,” he appealed.

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