Chandigarh, Sept. 6 — A Canadian radio network has collected $2 million in just two days to assist families affected by devastating floods in Punjab, rallying widespread contributions from the South Asian diaspora across major cities.
Red FM stations in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto spearheaded the fundraising through back-to-back Radiothons this week. Listeners in Vancouver alone pledged around $1 million on Thursday, while Calgary added nearly $460,000. The momentum carried into Friday when Toronto listeners committed close to $500,000, bringing the combined total to $2 million.
The donations will be channelled to SAF International, a Surrey-based non-profit organisation engaged in relief work in India. The charity has outlined a three-stage plan that includes immediate emergency supplies, rehabilitation for displaced families, and long-term rebuilding of homes and infrastructure in flood-affected areas.
“This year’s response has been extraordinary,” said Red FM president Kulwinder Sanghera. “In the 19 years that we have been organising Radiothons, the community has consistently shown its generosity. Once again, the South Asian community has stepped up to support people in need.”
The effort comes at a critical time, with villages submerged and thousands forced from their homes by rising waters in Punjab. The initiative has not only galvanised Punjabi-origin Canadians but also drawn contributions from the wider South Asian population across Canada.
Red FM operates stations in Surrey (93.1 and 89.1 FM), Calgary (106.7 FM), and Toronto (88.9 FM), all of which joined forces for the coordinated campaign. According to organisers, pledges flowed steadily throughout the live broadcasts, demonstrating both solidarity with Punjab and trust in the network’s longstanding charity drives.
Community leaders noted that such initiatives go beyond raising money. They serve as a bridge between diasporic populations and their homelands during crises. Organisers added that every dollar raised would be used directly for relief and rebuilding, ensuring immediate impact on those hit hardest by the floods.
