Climbers on expedition to Mount Everest will face tighter regulations as of next year, when Nepalese government officials are to be stationed on base camp.
The decision follows the conflict faced by mountaineers Ueli Steck and Simone Moro earlier this year, when the pair were attacked by a group of Sherpas after allegedly triggering an ice fall at 24,500ft.
Precautions will be put in place at the start of the spring climbing season to allow the Nepalese government to monitor mountaineering activities more closely. Nepalese officials say the government presence will help aid expedition teams, protect the environment and coordinate rescues. Current regulations state that each climbing team on the mountain must be accompanied by a liaison officer during expeditions.
Purna Chandra Bhattarai, chief of the tourism industry division, said: “The Integrated Service Centre will facilitate climbers by offering them communication and safety related services. Now personnel will also do the job of liaison officers and that will include checking climbing permits and verifying whether climbers reached the Everest summit.”