April 28: Despite the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, as many as 294 summiteers of 42 groups have been granted permission for climbing the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, this year.

According to the state-owned national news agency, RSS, this is so far the highest number of groups receiving permit for climbing the highest peak. RSS made such claim citing the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.    
This is slightly higher than the number of climbers getting permission for climbing in the year 2019, RSS further reported. Only 41 groups of mountaineers had obtained permission to climb Mount Everest in 2019.    
The number is still likely to go up this time as there is possibility for more climbers to turn up to seek permission. According to the department, 82 mountaineering groups, including 42 groups for Mount Everest have received permits.    
The second highest number of mountaineers obtaining permission is 13 for the ascent of the Lhotse, RSS further said. Five groups have obtained permission for climbing the Mt Dhaulagiri while eight have got permission to scale Mt Annapurna.
According to RSS, climbing of Mount Everest would start this week if the weather remains favourable. It may be noted that the ascent of the highest peak had been postponed for the summer season of 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The mountaineering sector was reopened on May 13, 2020.

Revenue collection from royalty for climbing mountains in the summer season has reached  Rs 530 million so far, according to the Mountaineering Section under the Department of Tourism. The year 2021 has remained enthusiastic in terms of royalty collection which amounted.