KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Valley is likely to face a shortage of blood following the sudden rise in its demand and a sharp fall in the collection.

Nepal Red Cross Society has urged people (eligible for blood donation) for help to cope with the situation. These days, blood donation and collection have significantly dropped.

According to Society's communications department chief Dibyaraj Poudel, the organisation has urged 'Youth for Blood' and 'Club 25' — which are active in the Valley in fresh blood collection, its district branches and sub branches based in Kathmandu Valley, and other social organisations and volunteer donors to intensify blood donation and collection programmes.

Director of Blood Transfusion Center Dr Manita Rajkarnikar said there is demand for 350 pints of blood in the Valley, but the center is finding it hard to cope with the situation as the collection has dropped significantly. On the other hand, Valley-based hospitals recorded relatively more surgery cases in the Nepali month of Chaitra (March/April).

Likewise, Dudhpati-based NRCS blood transfusion center is facing the same situation.