From correspondents in Delhi, India, 05:02 PM IST

In death, she gave life to five people. Usha Tanwar died of a brain haemorrhage two days ago but leaves behind a lasting legacy in five people who will get a fresh lease of life -- through the organs donated to them by her soldier son.

The mother of Lt. Col. Dinesh Tanwar died at the Army Research and Referral Hospital here Aug 9. Her son Dinesh, who is posted in Kashmir, took the decision to donate her organs, the hospital administration said Monday.

Her liver was transplanted into a 24-year-old soldier suffering from cirrhosis. One kidney was transplanted into a 54-year-old veteran suffering from end-stage kidney disease and the second kidney was flown to the Command Hospital, Pune, for transplantation, the hospital said.

The heart valves and eyes have been stored for later transplantation on people.

According to Lt. Gen. O.P. Mathew, commandant of the hospital, this is the tenth multi-organ donation at the hospital.

India has been facing a severe shortage of organs for transplantation. About 150,000 people, for instance, are diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease every year. The only way out is an organ transplant but only 3,000 people get it.

In 2007, the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA) was established to increase awareness about brain death. It has been promoting organ donation amongst defence personnel and their families.

Brain death is a condition when the brain is actually dead but the heart continues to beat for a few hours and the organs continue to receive blood supply. There is no chance of survival of the patient but organs can be taken out and be transplanted.

Over 2,000 serving personnel, veterans and families have pledged to donate their organs.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)