Kashmir Blood Donors: A Lifeline of Hope, One Drop at a Time

By Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag:Blood donation in Kashmir is not just a noble act — for some, it’s a lifelong mission. Abbas Paray, a 34-year-old resident of Danter in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, has been at the forefront of this mission since 2015, donating blood and organizing thousands of others to do the same.

Paray’s commitment has grown into a movement. Through the “Kashmir Blood Donors” initiative, his team has donated over 10,000 blood units, potentially saving hundreds of lives across the region. “This is a gift from God,” Paray told Arising State. “If I’m healthy, I believe I have a responsibility to help others survive.”

He describes each donation as an act of hope — not just for the recipient but for the donor as well. “It proves that one can live a healthy, active life while regularly donating blood,” he said.

In recent years, Paray and his network have responded to urgent calls from hospitals across the Valley. “We receive multiple requests for blood every day,” he said. “During the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, our donors quickly supplied 10 units of blood to injured tourists — and were prepared to give more.”

Paray emphasizes that his health has never been negatively impacted by frequent donations. “People fear weakness or complications, but I’ve been donating for nearly 11 years, and I remain active and fit.”

The strength of the initiative lies in its wide base. Around 8,000 young men and women, including students and working professionals, are part of the movement. A WhatsApp group, Kashmir Blood Donors, acts as the nerve center — any time someone needs blood, a message is sent out, and volunteers respond without hesitation.

Much of this success, Paray says, is owed to collective support. He credits International cricketer Parvez Rasool for amplifying their cause through social media, which helped them expand their network significantly. “We also have teams in Chandigarh — especially students from Kashmir — who donate blood to patients visiting hospitals there.”

For Paray and his team, the mission is simple yet profound: to ensure no one in Kashmir loses a life for want of blood.