After spending two nights at Everest camp 2 (21,000ft), Jamshepdur climbers Hemant Gupta and Payo Murmu will start their ascent to camp 3 (23,625 ft) early on Tuesday.

Their progress so far have been satisfactory which means they are likely to make it to the summit on May 25, according to information with Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) that keeping tabs on them through Kathmandu-based Asian Trekking Agency, which is conducting the Everest expedition.

"Hemant and Payo are presently in camp 2. Both will leave for camp 3 on Tuesday early morning and climb further to camp 4 (26,085 ft) before reaching the summit on May 25," said TSAF manager Pranav Mamgain.

The climbers are expected to begin their descent from the summit and reach Everest base camp on May 27.

IITian-turned-mountaineer Hemant (26), a manager with the premier adventure outfit, and Payo (51), who works at the loco traffic wing of Tata Steel, left base camp (17,600 ft) on May 18. They reached camp 2 four days later on May 21.

According to Mamgain, Payo's climbing speed had improved and she was in good stead with partner Hemant.

"Keeping in mind her (Payo) slow climbing speed, the Asian Trekking Agency provided her two extra oxygen cylinders. Now she is keeping good pace, while making her ascent," he said.

Hemant and Payo, who had a narrow escape after being stuck at camp 2 after the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015, went through several rounds of acclimatisation drills this time, too.

Till April 18, the drill was light. From April 18 to May 5, the acclimatisation drill was gruelling. Both were put through ice and snow craft training, including anchoring ropes on ice and climbing with ascenders called Jumars.

The rigours of acclimatisation drills included trekking to camp 1 and 3 and returning to base camp. A puja was also performed on April 17 to seek the blessings of the local god before the arduous Everest trek.