Fort Kochi’s Historic Koder House Gutted in Massive Fire

The 300-year old Koder House, a landmark structure in Fort Kochi was majorly gutted in a fire outbreak on Tuesday evening, saddening history enthusiasts of the city and beyond. No casualties were reported from the incident as everyone at the building at the time of the fire outbreak were evacuated.

The Koder House now hosts a restobar and a boutique hotel. Reports suggest that a short circuit may have led to the fire outbreak.

The fire that started at around 7 pm was brought down under control by around 9:30. The fire rescue operations were led by the Kerala state fire force and the Indian Navy stationed nearby, at the request of the former.

The historic three-storeyed red-brick mansion was built in 1808, by Samuel S Koder, an influential Baghdadi-Jew of that time. He is attributed by local historians to bring electricity to the beach town of Kochi, and also for starting a ferry network connecting the islands and inlets nearby.

The Koder House was his home, with an extension of it in a building at the street across, connected with a small bridge.

The structure, built in Indo-Portuguese architecture, was an iconic landmark of Fort Kochi, a town that has part of India’s colonial and maritime trade history, which now attract over 3 million tourists every year.

Locals, history enthusiasts, and neighbouring heritage businesses were shocked and are mourning the fire incident, and extended solidarity and support to the current owner of the establishment, Vicky.