A hundred mountaineers successfully reached the top of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), the highest peak in the world, on Sunday, 19 May 2024.
They took advantage of favorable weather conditions. Among them was Udaya Kerung, a 33-year-old from Panchthar district, who became only the second person from that district to reach the summit.
The climbers started their ascent from the Everest Base Camp with a team of 22 members. Pemba Sherpa, director of Eight K Expeditions, confirmed that all 22 climbers, including Kerung, reached the top before 7 am.
This season, a total of 200 climbers have conquered Mount Everest as of Sunday. Around 414 climbers have been permitted to climb this season, with approximately half of them having ascended the highest peak.
The expedition will continue for another week. Notably, on May 12, Kami Rita Sherpa set a record by summiting Mount Everest for a remarkable 29th time.
This season has been safer for climbers compared to previous years, with only two reported deaths so far, both from Mongolia and occurring during the descent.
In 2019, a photo captured by mountaineer Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja showed a long queue of climbers waiting to set foot on the highest peak, highlighting the dangers of the climb.
