October 14: The government has granted permits to 901 mountaineers of 108 groups to climb 35 different mountain peaks for the winter expedition.    
According to the Department of Tourism, the highest number of permits has been issued for Mt Manaslu (8,163 m). Altogether 404 mountaineers of 38 groups were granted permits to scale this mountain during the winter expedition.    
Similarly, the department informed that it has issued permits to five persons of a group to climb the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest (Sagarmatha). A total of 131 permits were issued to 11 groups for climbing Mt Ama Dablam (6,814 m) while permits were also issued to 144 mountaineers of 14 groups for the expedition of Mt Himlung (7,167 m).    
Thirty-four mountaineers of four different groups have received permission to scale Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) while one group has been granted permission to climb Mt Nuptse (7,855 m).    
So far, the department has collected over Rs 70 million in royalties from permits issued for the winter expedition this year. A total of 901 mountaineers from 68 countries including Nepal are preparing to climb various mountains and peaks. -- RSS