Pune: Over 10,000 Units Collected in Mega Blood Drive Held on Minister Murlidhar Mohol’s Birthday; Pune Citizens Win Praise for Exemplary Response

Pune, 24th November 2025: Amid a persistent shortage of blood supplies in the city, Pune residents turned out in exceptional numbers for a large-scale donation initiative organised on the birthday of MP and Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol. The campaign, conducted across 56 donation centres, collected an unprecedented 10,338 units of blood, marking one of Pune’s largest civic donation efforts in recent years.

Speaking about the overwhelming participation, Mohol said he was deeply moved by the public response. “The affection shown by Puneites has touched me profoundly,” he said, noting that people from every walk of life voluntarily contributed. “This was far more than a birthday gesture, it showcased Pune’s deep-rooted culture of cooperation, humanity, and unity.”

Mohol also revealed that his office is working to create a year-round registry of regular and rare blood group donors to ensure faster access during medical emergencies. The database, he said, will be supported by a soon-to-be-launched online portal where donors can register and hospitals or patients can directly reach out when blood is urgently required.

“This system will put an end to frantic last-minute appeals on social media or emergency calls to hospitals,” Mohol explained. “It will make the process simpler, faster, and more reliable for those in need.”

Organisers noted that the response far exceeded expectations, especially at a time when blood banks have been reporting critical shortages. Mohol described the drive as a testament to the city’s strong sense of community service: “Thousands stepped forward not just to mark an occasion, but to strengthen the city’s lifeline.”