Khatiwada said that the expedition was going on in full swing and the number of expedition groups making it to the top of Mt Everest today could not be ascertained owing to lack of communications with the climbers inching towards the summit.
He said that there was a high prospect of many mountaineers reaching atop Everest by this evening. "Some 'good news' could be broken by this evening," he said. Imagine Nepal Treks and Expedition Company's Director Mingma Gyalzen Sherpa said that over 100 mountaineers including Kami Rita have climbed Mt Everest so far this spring while as many were on a summit push bid today. "Kami Rita’s latest ascent has spread a message to the world that the mountaineering sector of Nepal is safe," asserted Khatiwada. Kami Rita, who first set his feet atop the Everest on May 13, 1994, has climbed many mountains over 8,000 meters at home and abroad over 39 times till date. Meanwhile, Pasang Dawa Sherpa is trailing Kami Rita and ascended Everest for the 26th time this spring. A record number of climbers are attempting to scale Mt Everest this spring as Nepal issued the highest number of the Everest climbing permits in history for the season since the first successful ascent of the Everest on May 29, 1953. The Department issued 478 permits for 44 groups for this season.
