Koder House heritage building in Kochi gutted by fire

A fire broke out at Koder House, a 218-year-old heritage building in Fort Kochi, on Tuesday evening. The blaze, which is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, gutted much of the structure's upper floor.

Built in 1808, the red-brick mansion is a significant landmark associated with the Jewish heritage of Kochi and the prominent Coder family. Due to strong coastal winds, there were concerns regarding the fire spreading to adjacent buildings. Two fire and rescue units from Mattanchery were deployed to the scene, and firefighting systems from the Navy and Coast Guard were utilized to prevent further spread. While the fire was brought under control, operations continued to ensure all flames were extinguished.