Bengaluru’s streets were strewn with white ice after a powerful hailstorm struck the city on April 29 in the evening. The weather changed drastically, and the rain caused widespread damage across the city. Around 10 people died, and more than nine were injured in the aftermath. Here’s everything you need to know.
Bengaluru Hailstorm Causes Widespread Damage
On April 29, 2026, Bengaluru faced a sudden heavy downpour along with a powerful hailstorm. The pre-monsoon brought much-needed relief from the heat, but it also caused widespread damage. According to The Times of India, seven people, including a six-year-old girl, lost their lives, and nine others were injured.
The incident reportedly occurred in Shivajinagar, where people had taken shelter along an eight-foot wall at Bowring Hospital to escape the downpour. The wall collapsed due to intense thunderstorms. At least three more people died in other rain-related incidents across Bengaluru. Authorities are now investigating these cases.
Hailstorm Damages Bookstore On Church Street
According to Deccan Herald, close to 5,000 books were damaged at The Bookworm, a bookstore on Church Street in Bengaluru. The hailstorm flooded the store and clogged nearby drains. Some of the damaged titles include copies of the ‘Asterix and Obelix’ series, ‘Elon Musk’ by Walter Isaacson, and many others. The loss could run into lakhs, but the proprietor is still assessing the extent. Around 30% of the books can be saved by drying them in the sun and selling them at a lower cost. Books that are completely damaged will have to be discarded.
According to India Today, the Sree Kanteerava Stadium also turned white within minutes after the intense hailstorm. The place looked as if it were not in Bengaluru but a hill station. Visuals of the stadium went viral online, with many comparing it to snowfall. Reportedly, temperatures in the city had risen this season, touching around 35°C, and the sudden storm on top of that highlights unstable weather patterns.
The city recorded 111 mm of rain by 8:30 am on April 30, 2026, breaking its previous record of 108.6 mm set 15 years ago on April 19, 2001.
Also Read: Snowfall In Hyderabad? Amid India’s Peak Summer, City Turns White Due To Hailstorm; See Videos!
We hope the situation turns normal soon.
Cover Image Courtesy: @Aabhas24/X and @chinchat09/X
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How many people died due to the Bengaluru hailstorm on April 29, 2026?
Around 10 people died in rain and hailstorm-related incidents across Bengaluru.