Meet the people who will do anything for blood
- Bhavika Jain
- TIMESOFINDIA.COMUpdated: Jun 14, 2024, 22:15 IST IST
For people with the extremely rare Bombay blood group, blood is indeed thicker than water. When they hear someone — even a complete stranger — with their blood type needs an infusion, they rush across the country to help
May 24 started like any other day in Ravindra Ashtekar’s life. The 36-year-old flower wholesaler in Maharashtra’s Shirdi was tending his business and spending time with his family until his WhatsApp pinged. Then, Ashtekar jumped into his car, picked up a friend, and drove more than 470km through the night to Indore’s Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital. They arrived early next morning and Ashtekar lay down to donate blood.
For whom did he take all the trouble, a close friend or a relative? No, Ashtekar rushed to save the life of a stranger who has the same blood group as him — the extremely rare Bombay blood group. It’s so rare that only 1 in every 10,000 Indians — 0.01% — is estimated to have it.
For whom did he take all the trouble, a close friend or a relative? No, Ashtekar rushed to save the life of a stranger who has the same blood group as him — the extremely rare Bombay blood group. It’s so rare that only 1 in every 10,000 Indians — 0.01% — is estimated to have it.
