Though a number of individuals have donated blood in the past two days, they cannot completely tide over the crisis that has become an annual affair for at least a decade now. In the gaiety of the festival season, few -- even among regular blood-donors -- remember that blood donation is a social necessity.

But because of the seasonal apathy, at least a dozen people lose their lives at least partly because of the paucity of the vital fluid. There are possibly other factors contributing to their death, but as doctors say, immediate blood supply would increase their chances of survival considerably.

The trouble critically ill or injured patients face in collecting blood of a particular group -- either from the SSG bank or the six other banks in the city -- is due to the fact that the banks depend on its nodal agency, the Vadodara Nagarik Raktadan Samiti, for a steady supply of blood. Repositories also tap patients' relatives, persuading them to donate one unit of blood for each unit they buy.

It is in this hand-to-mouth manner that the city blood banks manage to supply 600 to 700 units a month to innumerable critical lives.

The festival season crisis, however, is something social workers have not been able to combat despite all efforts. ``I have been seeing the same thing for years now'', says Samiti activist Kanjibhai Rawal, who's donated blood 80 times in 30 years. ``But blood donation invariably takes a back-seat during this one month''.

Sachin Patel, a volunteer with Those of Us who Care to Help (TOUCH), agrees that the crisis is not entirely unprecedented. ``Everyone, not just medical students, doctors and activists, must be involved in donating blood regularly. Turning 18 years shouldn't just mean we can vote or marry or see adult films -- it also means we are of age to donate blood'', he says. Like Rawal, Patel is confident they'll be able to organise substantial blood donations within a day or two.

Senior office-bearer of Rotary Club of Jawahar Nagar Dr Jayant Sastry and Dr Siddharth Naik of Lions Club of Vishwamitri also promise to pool in to accumulate as much blood as possible in the banks by Friday.