The World Red Cross Day celebration activities were held today across Doda District here under the aegis of District Red Cross Society and under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner, Harvinder Singh, who is also President of the DRCS.

The celebration centered on the theme "Keep Humanity Alive" and included a mega student rally that started from the DC Office Complex.

The Deputy Commissioner, along with other district officers, flagged off the rally, which marched through the main market towards the old bus stand and returned to the new bus stand before concluding at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School here.

The rally featured students from the government and private schools, who carried banners and chanted slogans such as "Red Cross Zindabad" and "Rakt Daan Maha Daan.

Donation boxes designated by the District Red Cross Society were also carried by some students to collect contributions for humanitarian causes. The event culminated with the hoisting of the Red Cross flag and a pledge ceremony at the Government Boys Higher Secondary School, with chief guest, ADC Sudershan Kumar and other district officials leading the activities.

Series of competitions, including a debate, a symposium, a painting competition, and a cultural program were also held, encouraging students to focus on the importance of humanity.

Meanwhile, an awareness Bike rally was taken out in Bhaderwah, which was led by ADC Sunil Kumar. The program saw participation from NGOs, NCC cadets and students from different schools.

The rally culminated at Seri Bazaar Bhaderwah, where officers, including Tehsildar Kamal, EO Ravi Saini, BMO Dr. Ashraf, BDO Akhil, and others, delivered messages highlighting the importance of Red Cross Day and road safety. Helmets were distributed among the bikers in collaboration with NGO YAC to promote traffic safety.

Meanwhile, blood donation camps were held at GMC Doda and SDH Bhaderwah as part of the World Red Cross Day celebrations. DC Harvinder Singh inaugurated the blood donation camp at GMC Doda blood bank.

The camps aimed to promote blood donation and raise awareness about the role of the Red Cross in providing humanitarian aid during conflicts and disasters.