Record 463 climbers attempting Mt Everest this spring

KATHMANDU: As many as 463 climbers from 65 countries are attempting Mt Everest (8848.86m) this spring.

According to a press statement issued by the Department of Tourism, 42 expedition teams have received permission to climb the tallest peak in the world.

The highest number of climbers attempting Mt Everest are from China (96), followed by the US (87), India (40), Canada (21), Russia (20) and the United Kingdom (18). Most of the climbers have already reached the Everest region for acclimatization.

The department has mobilized a royalty of Rs 650.36 million from these expedition teams.

Among other 8,000ers, there will be 13 expedition teams on Lhotse (8516m) this season, seven on Makalu (8463m), five on Annapurna I (8091m), four each on Manaslu (8163m) and Kanchanjunga Main (8586m) and three on Dhaulagiri (8167m).

A total of 1,046 climbers from 114 expedition teams will be attempting 24 different peaks this spring season, according to the department.