Mount Everest: World's tallest peak left unconquered for first time since 1974

The year 2015 saw not even one successful expedition to the top of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak situated in Nepal. This was the first year since 1974 in which the 8,848m mountain remained unconquered primarily because it was shut during the peak climbing season after the Nepal earthquake in April 2015.

The year also saw the death of 22 people in a single day on the afternoon of 25 April, 2015 after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal and surrounding nations. The quake triggered an avalanche into the base camp of the Everest which killed the climbers resting there. The year before an avalanche on the mountain near the base camp had killed 16 Nepalese guides.

After the earthquakes, the government in Nepal had completely shut all expeditions to the Everest, but was reopened for tourists in August 2015. After re-opening only one climber, Nobukazu Kuriki of Japan, was given permission to reach the top. He ultimately lost his fingers to frostbite when he was within 700m of the summit in October.

In September last year, the Nepalese government announced a slew of additional measures for new climbers which included age and disability restrictions.

Nepalese authorities said they remained positive that 2016 will see a bigger number of climbers to the Everest. Many climbers who registered in 2015 but could not make it due to the mountains being shut are likely to make the expedition this year.