Government to impose strict measures against Mt Everest climbers

The government is going to adopt strict measures for Mt Everest climbing aspirant from this spring – March, April and May – due to repeated breaches of rules and guidelines while climbing the highest mountain of the world.

The government has also decided to set up an integrated office at the Everest base camp to provide better service to the climbers, porters, sherpas, sardars, high-altitude workers and cooks, according to Tourism Ministry.

Last year, two European climbers and a group of rope-fixing sherpas fought on the Mt Everest.

Earlier, Ueli Steck of Switzerland and Italian Simone Moro, along with a British photographer, had a fight with a group of sherpas over climbing rights.

Likewise, British climber Daniel Huges also last year broadcast live footage from top of the Mt Everest via smart phone to BBC News, without any permission from the government.

Taking clue from the past incidents, the government is also going to verify climbers' experience, health and age before allowing them to climb the world's highest peak besides setting up a dedicated liaison office at the base camp for the first time.

The move aimed at climbers' safety will also help keep better track of the climbers. The ministry is also mulling installing GPS facilities in Khumbu region, where the Mt Everest is situated, to track the location of trekkers and mountaineers. It is bringing new guideline for garbage management as the region has ben littered by the climbers.

The proposed office will be manned by police, liaison officials, doctors and representation from ministry of tourism and conservation area. It will be equipped with satellite phone, email, internet and mobile phone services.