Chandigarh, Aug 12 (IANS): Dressed in red, 3,069 students of Kurukshetra University and its affiliated colleges Monday set a new record when they formed the shape of a blood drop to create awareness for blood donation on International Youth Day in Kurukshetra town in Haryana.

The students broke the previous world record for the largest human blood drop shape formed by 3,006 people by Baekseok University, Pyeongchang, South Korea Feb 23, 2012.

"This historic event will motivate the youth of the country and other citizens to donate blood for saving precious human lives," Kurukshetra University vice chancellor, Lt Gen D.D.S. Sandhu said.

"The aim of the record attempt was to promote large scale awareness about voluntary blood donation and to popularize it among youth. The attempt was a joint collaboration between ISBTI, Kurukshetra University, Indian Red Cross Society and BloodConnect," a university spokesperson said.

"Despite being the youngest nation in the world, the country faces a massive shortage of 3.6 million units of blood. Even if a mere two percent of the country's youth donate just once in their lifetime, the situation can be improved drastically," Yudhvir Singh, president of International Society for Blood Transfusion India (ISBTI), said.

BloodConnect is India's largest student-run group for voluntary blood donation. It connects people in need of blood to those who can donate it.

Kurukshetra is 100 km from Chandigarh.