A record 274 climbers successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest in a single day from the Nepali side on Wednesday, according to hiking officials, marking the highest number of ascents ever recorded in one day from Nepal.The world’s tallest mountain, standing at 8,849 metres (29,032 feet), sits along the border between Nepal and the Tibet region of China and is traditionally climbed from both sides during the spring mountaineering season.However, expedition operators said there were no climbers from the Tibetan side this year because Chinese authorities reportedly did not issue climbing permits.Nepal officials confirm historic Everest summit rushAccording to Reuters, Rishi Bhandari, secretary general of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal, said the previous record for the highest number of ascents from the Nepali side stood at 223 climbers on May 22, 2019.“This is the highest number of climbers in a single day so far,” Bhandari told Reuters, while adding that the final number could still increase as some climbers may not yet have officially reported their summit success to base camp officials.The overall global record for Everest summit ascents in a single day was set on May 23, 2019, when 354 climbers reached the peak from both the Nepal and Tibet sides combined, according to Guinness World Records.Everest climbing permits surge despite overcrowding concernsNepal has reportedly issued 494 climbing permits for Everest during the current season, with each permit costing around $15,000.Department of Tourism official Himal Gautam told Reuters that preliminary information suggested more than 250 climbers reached the summit on Wednesday alone.“We wait for climbers to return, give us photographs and other evidence to prove their ascents and provide them with climbing certificates,” Gautam told Reuters. “Only then we will be able to confirm the numbers.”The spring climbing season, which usually runs during April and May, remains the busiest period for Everest expeditions due to more stable weather conditions.Traffic jams near Everest summit remain major safety concernThe growing number of climbers on Everest has once again raised concerns about overcrowding on the mountain, particularly in the so-called “death zone” near the summit where oxygen levels are dangerously low for human survival.Mountaineering experts have repeatedly criticised Nepal for allowing large numbers of permits, warning that congestion near the summit can create long queues and increase risks for climbers.Images of traffic jams on Everest in previous years sparked international debate about safety, overcrowding and inexperienced climbers attempting the ascent.Nepalese authorities have since introduced tighter regulations and increased climbing fees in an attempt to improve safety standards on the mountain.Expedition organiser says large numbers can still be managed safelyDespite concerns around overcrowding, some expedition organisers believe high climber numbers are manageable if teams are properly prepared.Lukas Furtenbach of Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures told Reuters that his teams were not affected by congestion because they climbed after the larger groups had already moved ahead.“All our teams are behind the big crowd so we were not affected by that,” Furtenbach said from Everest base camp.He also argued that carrying sufficient oxygen supplies significantly reduces the dangers linked to waiting times near the summit.“We have mountains in the Alps like the Zugspitze where we have 4,000 persons on top per day. So 274 is actually not a big number, considering this mountain is 10 times bigger,” he told Reuters.Everest continues to attract climbers from around the worldDespite ongoing concerns over overcrowding, costs and safety risks, Mount Everest continues to attract mountaineers from across the globe every year.The peak remains one of the world’s most sought-after climbing achievements, with hundreds of climbers attempting to reach the summit each spring season.Officials are expected to release final verified summit numbers after climbers return safely and complete the certification process with Nepal’s tourism authorities.Inputs from agencies