Chennai, May 6 (IANS): In a rare operation, the Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals has harvested 23 different organs from five brain-dead donors to give a new lease of life to needy patients, an official said on Wednesday.

"The well-meaning families have helped give people in end-stage organ failure a second chance to live, and in the act will inspire more people to donate organs," Prathap Reddy, founder and chairman of Apollo Hospitals, told reporters on Wednesday.

On Sunday night, five families agreed to donate organs of their loved ones declared brain dead.

On Monday, the organs - five livers, 10 kidneys, six corneas and two hearts - were harvested.

Ten transplant operations were conducted at Apollo Hospitals (five livers, one heart and four kidneys), while the other remaining organs were sent to different hospitals where needy patients were admitted.

According to state health secretary J. Radhakrishnan, the programme was to create awareness on organ donation and not for publicity.

He thanked the families who agreed for organ donation despite their hour of grief.