A Nepali mountain guide passed away in the course of acclimatization in the Mount Qomolangma region on Sunday, said a government official.

Bijay Ghimire, 35, who had successfully been to the 8,848.86-meter peak three times in 2016, 2019 and 2023, died of altitude sickness. "He died while performing his responsibility as a mountain guide," said Himal Gautam, information officer at the Department of Tourism, in a statement on Monday evening.

The department has issued a record 492 permits to climbers to conquer the peak this spring season.