Kathmandu: A record 274 climbers successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepali side on May 20, marking the highest number of ascents ever recorded in a single day, according to Nepalese hiking officials.
Standing at 8,849 metres (29,032 feet), Mount Everest lies along the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet region and can be climbed from either side.
Rishi Bhandari, Secretary General of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal, said the new figure surpasses the previous record of 223 climbers who summited from the Nepali side on May 22, 2019.
“This is the highest number of climbers in a single day so far,” Bhandari said, noting that the final number could increase further as some climbers may not yet have officially reported their successful ascents to Everest base camp authorities.
Expedition organisers said that no climbers were ascending from the Tibetan side this year after Chinese authorities reportedly did not issue climbing permits for the season.
Although China has not released official figures regarding Everest summits from the Tibetan route, Bhandari noted that during a normal April-May climbing season, around 100 climbers usually attempt Mount Everest from that side.
Department of Tourism official Himal Gautam said preliminary information indicated that more than 250 climbers reached the summit on May 20. However, authorities are waiting for climbers to return and submit photographic proof and other required evidence before officially certifying the ascents.
Nepal has issued 494 permits for Mount Everest expeditions this year, with each permit priced at $15,000.
Mountaineering experts have frequently criticised Nepal for allowing large numbers of climbers on Everest, warning that overcrowding can create dangerous traffic bottlenecks and long queues in the so-called “death zone” near the summit, where oxygen levels are critically low for human survival.
In response to safety concerns linked to congestion and inexperienced climbers, Nepal has introduced stricter regulations and increased climbing fees in recent years.
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