KATHMANDU: A violent protest on Friday led to a massive fire at Herbal Products and Processing Company Limited, causing an estimated loss of Rs 600-700 million.
The arson destroyed the company’s main production branch, along with valuable machinery and finished products, leaving dozens of employees jobless.
The incident occurred at around 3:30 pm when a group of 50 to 100 protesters stormed the premises, pelting stones and setting vehicles on fire.
CCTV footage captured protesters vandalizing offices and attacking employees, forcing many to jump out of windows to escape.
The herbal company employed hundreds of workers, with 40 people working daily in production. Many were saved as they had already left for the weekend, but they now face uncertainty over their livelihoods.
“Lives were saved, but jobs were lost,” said Amita Dhungel, an employee. “This job supported our families, our children’s education, and rent. Now, everything is uncertain.”
Similarly, Mira Adhikari, who worked there for five years, expressed frustration, saying, “The government assured us they would do something, but the factory is in ruins. There’s no timeline for when machines will arrive or when work will resume.”
According to Govinda Sharma, head of the Planning and Market Management Branch, the attack began shortly after 3 pm. A discussion about branch expansion was taking place inside the office when the mob broke into the premises.
Security guard Amar Roka, who witnessed the attack, said he saw protesters breaking the gate lock, clashing with the police, and setting the guard’s room and vehicles on fire. The administration and production buildings were then set ablaze.
Despite repeated calls for help, the fire brigade only arrived after curfew was imposed, finally bringing the fire under control by 1 am. By then, almost everything inside the factory was destroyed.
A bigger catastrophe was averted as three large tankers filled with alcohol and diesel, stored for sanitizer production, remained untouched. Suman Sthapit, head of the warehouse branch, said, “If those tankers had caught fire, the entire settlement around the industry could have been destroyed.”
Following the incident, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and other officials conducted an on-site inspection. They have promised necessary assistance to help resume the factory’s operations.
However, for displaced employees like Amita, Mira, and Indra Pariyar, the uncertainty remains. While the physical damage can be repaired, the loss of livelihoods remains a pressing concern.
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