Kathmandu- The government has started issuing mountaineering permits for the  Mt Everest, the world's highest peak, in this spring season. 

According to the Department of Tourism, so far 17 women and 60 men from seven expeditions have taken permission to climb the Mt Everest (Sagarmatha).

Department's Director Liladhar Awasthi said permission has been granted to the mountaineering teams to climb Mt Everest and 29 other smaller mountains till date.

He said that the climbers obtaining  permission , have been heading towards the destination.  

A total of 198 climbers from different countries, including Nepal, have so far obtained permission to climb Mt Everest, according to the department's data.

A total of 66 climbers from six groups have taken permission for Annapurna-1 and eight from one mountaineering group for Annapurna-5.

A total of 15 climbers from one mountaineering group and 15 from one mountaineering group in Lhotse have got permission to climb Makalu.

The route to the second camp of Mt Everest is currently being opened and fixed.  But, the windstorm in Everest region poses difficulty in climbing route preparation for past two days.   The icefall doctors are waiting for favorable weather as the  wind  speed at  35 kilometers per hour till last evening and occurring  a piece of ice fall, according DoT. 

Meanwhile, the icefall doctors are opening the Everest route by  fixing ladders and ropes in  the Khumbu Icefall area. 'Four ladders and 12 hooks and nails have been placed at that area,' said Awasthi. 

 The route  up to  1,100 meters has been opened till date. 

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has deputed an icefall doctor to open the mountaineering route from the Base Camp to the second camp of Mt Everest.
A 10-member team has been deployed for this season, the SPCC said. Both teams will make a safe passage for Everest climbers.

The climbers who  fixed the  route to Khumbu icefall are called the 'icefall doctors'.

The Mountaineering Expeditions Operators' Association will assign a rope-fixing work from the second camp to the summit only after the route to the second camp of Mt. Everest is ready.

An eight-member team led by Ashok Lama has already been deployed  for the purpose.

The association has given the management responsibility of fixing ropes and making way for climbing Mt. Everest this season to 8K Expedition Company.

Spring season is considered to be the best season for climbing mountains including Mt. Everest. A significant number of foreigners arrived  for Mt. Everest ascent this season.-RSS