By Balwant Singh Sanghera – Secretary – Gurdawra Nanak Niwas 

RICHMOND – The recent floods in Punjab have caused havoc. Thousands of acres of fertile farmland has been swept away by raging rivers. Hundreds of schools, colleges and other facilities have been destroyed or severely damaged. 

Hundreds of thousands of people have become homeless. Some communities have been wiped out. More than 9,000 kilometers of roads have been severely damaged. More than sixty people have lost their lives. It has been reported that millions of dollars are needed to get the situation back to normal. 

A large number of actors, singers and other well to do people have come forward to help. In this context, the NRIs living abroad including Canada have also opened their hearts and wallets to help their brothers and sisters in the Punjab. 

Millions of dollars have already been raised by radio thons and other fundraisers to help the needy in the Punjab. At India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdawra Nanak Niwas, 8600 #5 Road in Richmond, BC, the management committee, with the help of the Sangat, has raised $50,000 to help the needy in the Punjab. A cheque for $50,000 made out to Sikhi Awareness Foundation International (SAF International ) was handed over  by Gurdwara Society’s Chairperson Kashmir Kaur Johal  to radio RedFM CEO Kulwinder Singh Sanghera  on Sunday, November 9 at the Gurdwara . 

Along with Kulwinder Singh Sanghera and prominent Red FM Host Harjinder Singh Thind, a number of members of the Gurdwara management were also present. SAF International is a duly registered charity in India. 

Managements of REd FM Radio and Gurdwara Nanak Niwas will ensure that this money reaches the most needy flood victims in the Punjab as soon as possible. 

The Gurdwara management is very thankful to the Sangat for its generosity. 

In the picture from left are: Gurdial Singh Badh, Avtar Singh Saddhar, Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Harjinder Singh Thind, Kamaljit Singh Dosanjh, Kanwarjit Singh Sahota, Sohan Singh Basi, Balwant Singh Sanghera, Mohan Singh Sandhu, Chain Singh Batth, Ubed Singh Sidhu. In the front row in the chair are Mrs. Satwant Kaur Jarmana, Chairperson Mrs.  Kashmir Kaur Johal and Kulwinder Singh Sanghera.