Key facts
- The fire at the Brahmapuram waste dumping yard broke out on 2 March 2023 and was put out after 12 days, Onmanorama and South First reported.
- On 7 March 2023 the Kerala High Court observed that the fire had put Kochi in a 'gas chamber-like' situation, and took up the matter on its own (South First).
- Kalamassery municipality was among eight local bodies where all educational institutions, including professional colleges, were closed for three days from Monday, 13 March 2023 (Onmanorama, 12 March 2023).
- The National Green Tribunal fined the Kochi Municipal Corporation ₹100 crore in an order reported on 18 March 2023, and held the state government responsible for the fire and the delay in putting it out (Onmanorama).
- BPCL's compressed biogas plant at Brahmapuram, designed for 150 tonnes of biodegradable waste a day, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on 27 February 2026 (BPCL).
Twelve days of smoke
Brahmapuram, on the eastern edge of Kochi, has been the city corporation's main waste dump for years, holding hundreds of thousands of tonnes of mixed 'legacy' waste. On 2 March 2023 fire broke out in the waste mounds. Onmanorama reported that the fire was put out after 12 days and that toxic smoke had spread over the Brahmapuram area, nearby places and Kochi city, causing severe distress.
Residents were told to stay indoors and wear N95 masks when they went out. Health Minister Veena George advised the elderly, pregnant women, children and people with lung conditions to take particular care to avoid the smoke. On 7 March the Kerala High Court said the fire had put Kochi in a 'gas chamber-like' situation and took up the matter on its own motion. On 12 March the district collector said smoke levels had fallen by about 95%, while warning of fresh flare-ups in parts of the yard.
Timeline
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2 March 2023 | Fire breaks out in waste mounds at the Brahmapuram dumping yard | South First |
| 6–7 March 2023 | Classes 1–7 closed in Kochi Corporation and six nearby local bodies; Kalamassery not on this first list | Onmanorama, 5 March 2023 |
| 7 March 2023 | Kerala High Court describes a 'gas chamber-like' situation and takes up the matter | South First |
| 12 March 2023 | Collector reports smoke down about 95%; three-day closure of all institutions announced in eight local bodies including Kalamassery | Onmanorama |
| 15 March 2023 | Chief Minister announces a three-tier probe in the Assembly | South First |
| 17 or 18 March 2023 | NGT fines Kochi Corporation ₹100 crore (reports differ on the date) | Onmanorama; South First |
| February 2025 | Minister reports 75% of biomining complete; a small fire is put out within about 30 minutes | Onmanorama |
| 27 February 2026 | BPCL's compressed biogas plant at Brahmapuram inaugurated | BPCL press release |
How it reached Kalamassery
The first school closures, announced on 5 March for Monday 6 March, covered classes 1 to 7 in Kochi Corporation, the Thrikkakara, Tripunithura and Maradu municipalities and three panchayats near the dump; Kalamassery was not on that list, according to Onmanorama's 5 March report. As smoke persisted, the collector widened the order. On 12 March Onmanorama reported a three-day holiday, Monday to Wednesday, for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in eight local bodies, and this time the Kalamassery municipality was among them, alongside Thrikkakara, Maradu, Kochi Corporation and three panchayats. SSLC, higher secondary and university examinations went ahead as scheduled.
That meant days off for schools and colleges in Kalamassery itself. We did not find air-quality readings published specifically for Kalamassery during the fire, so we do not describe its smoke levels.
The NGT fine and the inquiries
On 15 March Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a three-tier probe by different agencies, and a special investigation team of the state police took up a criminal case. The National Green Tribunal, acting on its own on the basis of media reports, then fined the Kochi Municipal Corporation ₹100 crore, to be deposited with the Chief Secretary within a month and used for remedial work and public health. Onmanorama reported that the bench, headed by Justice A. K. Goyal, held the state government responsible for the fire, the delay in putting it out and the threat to public health. Reports differ on whether the order was issued on 17 or 18 March 2023.
Mayor M. Anilkumar said the corporation did not have the money and would appeal. We did not find a final outcome of any challenge to the fine, so we do not state one.
Waste reforms that followed
The private contractor that had been biomining the legacy waste, Zonta, left the site after the fire; Kerala Kaumudi reported that its ₹54 crore biomining contract was cancelled, with ₹10 crore already paid. Biomining continued under new arrangements. In February 2025 Local Self-Government Minister M. B. Rajesh reported, according to Onmanorama, that about 75% was done: roughly 6.08 lakh of 8.43 lakh tonnes removed and about 18 acres recovered. A small fire that month near the biogas plant site was put out in about 30 minutes.
The longer-term answer was a compressed biogas (CBG) plant built by Bharat Petroleum on 10 acres of corporation land at Brahmapuram, at an estimated ₹150 crore borne by BPCL. It was designed to process 150 tonnes a day of segregated biodegradable waste from Kochi Corporation and nearby local bodies including Thrikkakara, Kalamassery and Eloor. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated it on 27 February 2026; BPCL said it would produce 5.6 tonnes of CBG and 28 tonnes of organic manure a day. The original target had been March 2025.
The fire also gave weight to state-level changes in waste rules, covered in our pages on Kerala's 2024 waste law and the single-use plastic ban. For what residents do with their rubbish today, see waste disposal in Edathala and Kalamassery.
Why this history matters near the NAD signal
Kalamassery's biodegradable waste is among the loads the Brahmapuram biogas plant was planned to take, so the 2023 fire is not only someone else's story. For residents, that means separating wet and dry waste properly; the Municipality guide explains who collects what. Ashraf Gents Hostel, a men's hostel/PG on NAD Road at the signal, has a shared kitchen and wash area; ask about house rules for waste on the call at +91 90746 23855. More records are in the Kalamassery history archive and Kalamassery in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Brahmapuram fire happen?
It broke out on 2 March 2023 and was put out after 12 days.
Were schools in Kalamassery closed?
Yes. Kalamassery municipality was one of eight local bodies where all educational institutions were closed for three days from 13 March 2023. It was not on the first, narrower closure list.
What fine did the NGT impose?
₹100 crore on the Kochi Municipal Corporation, in an order reported on 18 March 2023 (some reports say 17 March).
What has been built at Brahmapuram since?
A BPCL compressed biogas plant for 150 tonnes of biodegradable waste a day, inaugurated on 27 February 2026, while biomining of old waste continued.
Does Kalamassery's waste go to Brahmapuram?
The BPCL plant was planned to take segregated biodegradable waste from Kochi and nearby local bodies including Kalamassery; check current municipal arrangements.
Related guides
Sources
- Onmanorama: Brahmapuram fire: NGT fines Kochi Corporation (18 March 2023)
- South First: Kochi Corporation cries foul after NGT slaps a fine of ₹100 crore
- Onmanorama: Brahmapuram fire: Monday holiday for schools in seven local bodies (5 March 2023)
- Onmanorama: Brahmapuram update: three-day holiday for schools, exams to go ahead (12 March 2023)
- Kerala Kaumudi: Zonta exits Brahmapuram, BPCL plant to be installed
- Onmanorama: Brahmapuram as 75% of biomining completes (3 February 2025)
- BPCL: Kerala Chief Minister inaugurates BPCL CBG plant at Brahmapuram (27 February 2026)
Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed . How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.
Cite this guide: Ashraf Gents Hostel. “The 2023 Brahmapuram Fire and Its Effect on Kalamassery.” Published 8 October 2026. https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/brahmapuram-fire-2023-kalamassery/ Plain-text (Markdown) version · quoting with a link back is welcome.