Nepal is considering banning severely disabled climbers and those deemed too old from Everest and other mountains in an attempt to improve safety, the head of its tourism department said.
The proposals come five months after an avalanche, triggered by a massive earthquake, killed 18 people at Everest base camp and are aimed at improving safety — but they are also likely to spark accusations of discrimination.
"We don't think we should issue permits to people who cannot see or walk or who don't have arms," tourism department chief Govinda Karki said.
"Climbing Everest is not a joke ... it is not a matter of discrimination, how can you climb without legs? Someone will have to carry you up.
"We want to make the mountains safer for everyone, so we have to insist on some rules."
Mr Karki said the government was also mulling issuing permits only to Everest climbers who first scale another mountain above 6,500 metres to prove they can handle the world's highest peak.
Hundreds of climbers abandoned their bids to ascend the 8,848-metre mountain after the April disaster, marking a second spring season with virtually no-one reaching the summit.
An avalanche the year before killed 16 guides and triggered global debate about the huge risks borne by Nepalis who fix ropes and repair ladders to help climbers with varying levels of experience.
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