Fire guts heritage Koder House in Fort Kochi; no casualties reported
A major fire swept through the heritage Koder House in Fort Kochi on Tuesday evening, gutting the 1808 building. Guests and staff were evacuated and no injuries were reported.
A major fire broke out at Koder House, a landmark heritage building in Fort Kochi, on Tuesday evening, consuming most of the colonial-era structure and prompting the evacuation of guests, staff and nearby residents.
The blaze started on one of the upper floors of the multi-storey building around 7 p.m. and spread rapidly. Strong coastal winds worsened the situation, and the fire went on to gut much of the red-brick mansion on Tower Road.
Guests and staff were moved out soon after the flames were spotted, averting what officials described as a potential major tragedy. Belongings of some guests were lost in the fire. People in adjoining buildings were also shifted to safety.
Fire and Rescue Service personnel brought the blaze under control by about 9.30 p.m. in a coordinated effort involving firefighters from around 15 stations across Ernakulam and personnel from the Navy. The Coast Guard also assisted.
The Indian Navy said it joined the operation after the Kochi City police sought assistance, deploying defence fire tenders from INS Dronacharya, INS Venduruthy and INS Garuda.
An officer at the Mattancherry fire station said no one was injured and that no one had been trapped inside. The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed. A preliminary assessment pointed to a possible short circuit, but the exact cause and the extent of damage will be known only after a detailed inspection.
The officer added that smoke continued to rise from the site even after the flames were doused, as the building has wooden floors and roofing. Congested roads in the area made the rescue operation difficult despite police assistance with traffic management.
Originally built in 1808 as a Portuguese mansion, the building was purchased and renovated in 1905 by Samuel S. Koder, a member of a prominent Jewish family in Kochi and Honorary Consul to the Netherlands. It remained with the Koder family until the third generation sold it.
The restored Indo-Portuguese structure, part of Kochi's Jewish heritage, was operating as a luxury boutique hotel and was known for its sea-view rooms, wooden floors and carved wooden furniture.