Kathmandu, Sept. 17 -- Unlike in the past, the Central Blood Transfusion Service is not facing an acute blood shortage during this year's Dashain festival, which is two weeks away, as there is sufficient stock in place.

Following last week's Gen Z protests, a surge of panic donations has led to the service, better known as blood bank, to ask the public to donate only when there is a need or an official request for it, officials say.

"For the first time in several years, we will not have a blood shortage during Dashain," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, senior technical officer at the transfusion service. "We need more blood after Dashain, during Tihar and Chhath festivals so we have been requesting prospective donors to donate only when reques...