CYCLE OF DEATH
Volunteers flood Jaipur hospital to donate blood ……Anubha Sawhney Joshi | TNN
EVEN BEFORE THE TEARS HAVE DRIED, TOURIST CANCELLATIONS DEAL JAIPUR ANOTHER BLOW
Jaipur: The spirit of Jaipur was out there for everybody to see on Wednesday as volunteers flooded SMS Hospitals blood bank. In fact, eager donors had to be turned away on Tuesday night as their presence was creating more chaos than calm.
Undeterred, they came back the next morning to see how they could help. Over 5,000 volunteers have come forward, said Dr Haresh Saxena, head of the department of pathology and transfusion services at SMS Hospital. The numbers are only swelling. We actually had to turn people away last night, he said on Wednesday.
Shubham Arora, a 24-yearold garment exporter, came with his entire family. My parents have donated blood and so has my uncle, he said, adding, Ive lived in Jaipur all my life, except when I went to a college in Delhi. I have never known my city in such a state. There is complete shock all around. Shubham is one of many who have come to do their bit for Jaipur. Many locals have been patiently standing in line, awaiting their turn to donate blood. We already have over 1,000 units of tested blood, said Saxena. But Im not surprised at the response of Jaipurites. The citys people have always stood together and this tragedy has only brought them closer.
Mamta Bhati and Usha Rathore are two of about 12 NCC cadets (air wing) who have also come to donate blood. Terrorists are trying to attack tourist places so they can scare the government. But were a tough lot, says Mamta. Adds Usha, Jaipur will bounce back. Already there are people on the streets and no instance of communal violence has been reported. If the idea was to terrorise us, were not the ones to get scared.
INCONSOLABLE: Women mourn the death of their relatives in Jaipur on Wednesday