Climbers ignore fears of overcrowding in Everest bid

More than 50 climbers reached the top of Mount Everest yesterday at the start of a two-day window that has raised fears of perilous overcrowding on the world’s highest peak after four deaths last week.

The 48-hour stretch of forecast good weather was expected to see more than 200 climbers try a final push to the 8,848m (29,029ft) summit, despite warnings of potentially deadly bottlenecks in the “death zone” above 8,000m.

“So far 52 people have summited and there were a total of 150 ready to climb at camp four,” said tourism ministry official Tilak Pandey.