Three Indians among 274 to Mt. Everest, set new record

Record Day on Everest

In an unprecedented feat, 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepalese side on Wednesday, setting a new record for the highest number of ascents in a single day, according to reports from The Guardian and The Hindu. The climbers took advantage of clear weather conditions, as confirmed by Rishi Ram Bhandari, general secretary of the Expedition Operators Association in Nepal.

"This is the highest number of climbers in a single day so far," Bhandari told Reuters, adding that the number could rise as some climbers who had summited might not have informed the base camp yet.

All but one of the climbers reached the summit assisted by Sherpa guides and using supplementary bottled oxygen, according to The Guardian. The exception was Ecuadorian climber Marcelo Segovia, who summited independently and without oxygen. The 8,849-metre peak can be scaled from either the southern side in Nepal or the northern face in China's Tibet, but Chinese authorities have closed their route this year, focusing all traffic on the Nepalese side.

The previous record for a single day from Nepal was 223 climbers, set on May 22, 2019, as reported by The Guardian.

Indians Among the Summiteers

Three Indians were among the record-breaking group, as reported by The Hindu. They were Tulasi Reddi Palpunoori, Sandeep Are, and Ajay Pal Singh Dhaliwal. The Hindu, quoting Bhandari, noted that the three were part of the team that made a "World Record." The expedition operators' association confirmed that 150 of the 274 climbers were Nepalese Sherpas.

On Thursday, a fourth Indian, Lakshmikanta Mandal, reached the summit, according to The Hindu. Mandal scaled the peak along with eight others, including six Nepalese Sherpas, according to Pioneer Adventure Private Limited, the organizer of the expedition. This additional ascent was reported only by The Hindu, and it remains unclear whether this summit occurred as part of the same weather window or a separate one.

New Records Set This Season

This spring season has also seen notable record-breaking achievements by climbers from Nepal. Kami Rita Sherpa scaled the peak for the 32nd time this week, breaking his own record for the most summits of Everest, as reported by both The Guardian and The Hindu. His closest rival, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, scaled the peak for the 30th time this week, according to The Guardian.

Lhakpa Sherpa, also from Nepal, became the first woman to climb Everest for a record 11 times this season, topping her own record for the most summits by a female climber, as noted by both sources.

Nepal's Permits and the Season's Context

Nepal has issued 494 permits to climb Everest this year, each costing $15,000, according to The Guardian. The Hindu reported that 502 climbers had acquired permission to climb the Everest in spring 2026, a slight discrepancy that might be due to different counting methods (permits vs. individual climbers, as some permits may have been unused or counted at different times).

Both sources noted that the spring season started late because of the threat of ice fall on the normal tourist route, as reported by The Guardian. The large convergence on a single day appears to have occurred as climbers who had been waiting in higher camps for better wind conditions were joined by climbers from lower camps, with some reporting queues and a slow pace of ascent, according to The Guardian.

Perspectives on Crowding and Safety

Mountaineering experts often criticize Nepal for allowing large numbers of climbers on the mountain, which sometimes leads to risky jams or long queues in the "death zone" area below the summit, where the level of natural oxygen is below what is required for human survival, as reported by The Guardian. This record-breaking day, while marked as a success for many, also raises questions about the sustainability and safety of such large summit pushes.

The Hindu's coverage emphasizes the achievement of the Indian climbers, marking a point of national pride, while The Guardian's report focuses on the larger context of the record and the underlying safety concerns. Both outlets agree on the core facts: the record number of summits, the role of clear weather, and the notable record achievements by Kami Rita Sherpa and Lhakpa Sherpa.