Lucknow: This IAS donated blood 116 times, to be feted

LUCKNOW: Rajan Shukla was 18 years old when he donated blood for the first time. Since then, the IAS officer has donated blood every three months. Shukla, now 56, holds the record of donating blood 116 times and will be honoured by KGMU on World Blood Donor Day on Friday for it.
“I picked this habit from my father. I used to accompany him when he donated blood and realised its significance,” said Shukla, principal secretary, civil defence.
His brother Rajarshi (48), a judicial member of consumer court, has donated blood 52 times. “By donating one unit, we save at least four lives. Plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are segregated and used,” he said.
Prof Tulika Chandra, head, transfusion medicine, KGMU, has donated 15 times. “Regular blood donation is beneficial to donor also as it helps maintain blood viscosity and reduces chances of heart attack,” she said.