Docs struggle with disproportionately large number of people turning up to donate blood to blast victims thanks to social networking sites

Dr Prasad Muglikar, director, medical services, Jehangir Hospital, is a harrowed man. Besides handling 12 blast injury victims and entertaining numerous VVIP visits, he is growing increasingly weary of the constant stream of blood donors at the hospital who learnt from social networking sites about the need for blood.

Though appreciative that Puneites are responsibly turning up in large numbers during emergencies, doctors across the city are discovering that Tweeting can be too much of a good thing. Dr P S Pawar, medical superintendent of Sassoon Hospital, where most of the blast victims are being treated, said 150 people had turned up to donate blood in the 24 hours following the blasts.

"Many social organisations also came to our help. Blood is always handy because we keep needing it. However, there should be some moderation. How will our staff attend to so many donors?" said Pawar.

Dr Muglikar attributes the deluge of donors to the reach of social networking websites.

"We needed just two bottles of blood. Someone learnt of this and put up a message on a social networking website. A short while later, thousands of people began calling our hospital. The offers for help haven't stopped since then," explained Muglikar.