Kathmandu, March 30:

With the onset of the mountaineering season, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has begun issuing permits to teams wishing to scale various mountains. The ministry has issued permits to 21 expeditions so far.

The ministry also expects more expeditions to seek climbing permits this season. “We have already issued permits to five expedition teams to climb the Mt Everest,” said the ministry’s mountaineering department.

The ministry is yet to issue climbing permits to eight more teams for attempting Mt Everest.