Mangaluru: The Indian Red Cross Society, Dakshina Kannada, on Monday took possession of ‘Blood Mobile’, which is a bus, that helps organisers in conducting blood donation camps. Costing Rs.60 lakh it is funded jointly by the Rotary Club Mangalore and Rotary Club of Shererville.

The bus – the first of its kind to operate in Mangaluru region – has been built on the chassis of Ashok Leyland. Apart from providing space for donation by four persons at a time, the bus provides five seats for donors waiting for their turn. It has space for stocking donated blood in the cold storage and keep stock juice packets for donors in a freezer. It provides reception area and place to stock material required for donation.

Yatish Baikampady from Rotary Club Mangalore said: “The organisers of blood donation camps need not be worried of creating infrastructure for holding the event. For a prescribed fee (of about Rs.5,000), services of this mobile unit can be used.” A committee comprising members from Rotary Club and Indian Red Cross will oversee operation of the mobile unit, he said.

B.V. Rajesh, honorary secretary of Indian Red Cross, Dakshina Kannada, said the society was on the lookout for space to park the Blood Mobile. The society was working out ways to bear expenses for maintenance of the vehicle.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar, who is also the Vice President of Indian Red Cross Society, Dakshina Kannada, received the vehicle from office-bearers of Rotary Club Mangalore 3181.