Government-Run Herbal Factory Resumes production of “Sancho”after devastating arson
Herbs Production and Processing Company Ltd. (HPPCL), Nepal’s leading government-run herbal producer, has officially resumed the packaging of Sancho oil—Nepal’s most iconic medicinal product—following a months-long shutdown caused by an arson attack during pro-monarchist unrest.
On Friday, staff returned to work inside the Kathmandu-based factory, carefully bottling the herbal oil once feared lost after the facility was torched in late March 2025. The incident, triggered by royalist protestors demanding the return of the monarchy, resulted in severe destruction of manufacturing equipment, laboratory facilities, stockpiles of raw materials, and vehicles.
Sancho: A Household Name in Nepal
Sancho is more than just an oil—it’s a fixture in Nepali households. Extracted from natural herbs like Zanthoxylum, eucalyptus, and camphor, this multipurpose essential oil is used to relieve cold symptoms, headaches, minor joint pains, and muscle aches. With a soothing aroma and deep-rooted trust built over generations, Sancho has earned its place as a go-to remedy across urban centers and rural villages alike.
Highly affordable and easy to use, it’s often the first treatment families reach for during seasonal flu outbreaks or to ease minor health discomforts. Sancho is also popular among trekkers and tourists who carry it as a portable remedy for altitude-related discomforts, motion sickness, and fatigue.
Its popularity extends beyond households. Sancho is commonly used in hospitals, spas, and Ayurvedic clinics across the country, while also being exported to Nepali communities abroad—particularly in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the United States.
Fire, Setbacks, and Determination
The attack in March devastated the factory. Flames gutted core infrastructure and halted all production. According to HPPCL officials, damages ran into hundreds of millions of rupees. Employees were evacuated, and work came to a complete stop.
The factory, founded in 1981 to promote Nepal’s indigenous herbal medicine industry, had never seen disruption on this scale. It became a symbol of national resilience when management vowed to resume production using temporary setups, manual equipment, and salvaged stock.
The staffs and officials at HPPCL say that they may have lost machinery, but they have never lost their mission. And they are working tirelessly to meet the public demand for Sancho, even as it is rebuilding.
Back in Bottles, Back in Homes
Today, the rhythmic process of bottling, labeling, and packaging has resumed. Employees are gradually scaling up output while awaiting the full reconstruction of the automated lines. Early production is focused on meeting backlogged orders and restoring retail stock nationwide.
The revival of Sancho not only restores a vital medical product to the market but also delivers a message of hope and endurance. As Nepal continues to navigate political uncertainties, the resilience of institutions like HPPCL stands as proof that essential services and public trust endure—even in flames.
