• Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mount Everest for the 31st time, breaking his own record.
• The 55-year-old climber achieved this feat while guiding an Indian Army team.
• Rita first summited Everest in 1994 and has been scaling it almost annually since then.
• His closest competitor, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, has ascended Everest 29 times.
• Everest climbing permits issued this season exceed 1,000, showcasing its popularity.

Nepali climber Kami Rita Sherpa has made history by reaching the summit of Mount Everest for a record 31st time on Tuesday, further extending his own record for the most ascents of the world's highest peak. The 55-year-old climber, often referred to as the "Everest Man," reached the 8,849-meter peak early in the morning while leading an Indian Army expedition, according to officials from Seven Summit Treks, the guiding company he works for, and the Indiatimes.

Kami Rita's mountaineering journey began in 1994 when he first summited Everest, and he has climbed the peak almost every year since, sometimes completing two ascents in one season. "I am more happy that my climbs help Nepal be recognised in the world," Rita stated in previous interviews, stressing his desire to fulfill climbers' dreams. His closest competitor, fellow Sherpa Pasang Dawa, has completed 29 summits, making Rita's achievement even more significant, as highlighted by multiple sources including BBC and NPR.

The climbing season is particularly busy this year, with more than 1,100 climbing permits issued for various peaks, including Everest. As more climbers attempt to reach the summit under favorable weather conditions, concerns have arisen regarding overcrowding on the mountain and its potential environmental impact. Reports indicate that the current climbing season has been one of the deadliest due to accidents, with two known fatalities already reported this month, as noted by sources such as Reuters and Al Jazeera.