LONDON: A Total of 463 mountaineers have received the government approval to ascend Mount Everest for this spring season.

According to the Department of Tourism (DoT), the aforementioned numbers of climbers have received permits to climb the world’s highest peak as of Wednesday. The total number could reach 470 for this season as few more are in the process of acquiring permits now, said Bigyan Koirala, a section officer at the DoT.

Koirala said many mountaineers who have received permits have now reached Everest Base Camp and Camp-II. According to him, the mountaineering route up to Camp-IV has been built. Once the rope is fixed to the top, the summit will begin.

The government has collected royalties of Rs 737.40 million by issuing permits to the climbers of Mount Everest.