Fri Jun 13 15:59:11 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, suitable for The Hindu, along with a brief contextualization given the other sections of the paper:
**The Hindu: Kerala News**
**Historic Mala Synagogue Roof Collapses After Heavy Rains**
**Thrissur, June 13, 2025:** The roof of the historic Jewish synagogue in Mala, Kerala, collapsed on Wednesday night following heavy rains. The incident occurred just days after structural vulnerabilities were reported, sparking concerns about the preservation of this important cultural heritage site.
The central portion of the roof gave way, prompting immediate action by the Muziris Heritage Project, which has overseen the synagogue’s care since 2017. Authorities are currently covering the damaged roof with tarpaulin sheets to prevent further water damage. No injuries were reported as the collapse occurred at night.
Local residents stated the roof had been unstable for some time, and their repeated warnings to authorities went unheeded. The structure’s wooden ceiling concealed the damage from view inside the synagogue, hindering immediate detection of the severity of the problem. The synagogue, a significant tourist attraction and a place of pilgrimage for members of the Jewish community, underwent renovations just a year and a half ago at a cost of ₹75.5 lakh.
The Mala Synagogue is considered one of the oldest synagogues in Kerala and a vital remnant of the once-thriving Jewish community in the area. Officials from the Archaeology Department are expected to assess the damage and plan restoration efforts. MLA V.R. Sunil Kumar has directed the Muziris authorities to take urgent steps to protect the site. The Muziris Heritage Project has planned steps to fix the damages that were reported days prior.
First Piper 