The RIMS blood bank is reeling under acute crisis of blood, hospital sources said on Saturday.

A RIMS official, who spoke under cover of anonymity, said that as on Friday only 35 units of blood were available at the premier state-run hospital’s bank.

“The break-up is five units of A positive, two units of A negative, 10 units of B positive, three units of B negative, five units of O positive and four units of O negative besides three units each of AB positive and negative,” the official said expressing his concern over the situation.

In-charge of the blood Bank, Dr Sushma Kumari admitted the situation was alarming but added: “According to data available to me the number of blood units in the blood bank is 247 today (Saturday).

“We are organising blood donation camps but people have problems reaching the camps due to the lockdown. We need more blood these days as we apart from catering to thalassaemia and other patients we also have coronavirus patients,” Dr Kumari added.

The RIMS insider pointed out: “Apart from the 35 units, the rest are property of relatives of patients who brought the donors. The RIMS blood bank cannot claim its right over it.”

Dr Kumari said: “It is true that blood collected from voluntary donors is not our property but if the blood is in the bank we can add this number.”

Atul Gera, founder president of voluntary organisation Life Saver that organises blood donation camps supported the RIMS insider.

“The RIMS blood bank has a tendency to ask relatives of patients to bring replacement instead of providing them blood as it does not organise blood donation camps regularly and hardly collects blood from voluntary donors. On Friday health minister Banna Gupta also called for voluntary blood donation after he realised the situation,” Gera said.