HYDERABAD, July 30: Sindh Population Welfare Minister Imtiaz Shaikh had directed authorities concerned to immediately launch relief operation in the district to aid rain victims, he told a press conference at the circuit house here on Monday.

Earlier, the minister visited rain-affected areas in Latifabad and Qasimabad.

He said he had come to Hyderabad to assess the situation arising out of the rain. He said he had seen no relief operation in the city and found the residents in miserable condition as the sewerage system had totally collapsed.

Mr Shaikh said Rs100 million was required to provide immediate relief to the rain-hit people in Hyderabad. He said the amount for restoration of civic life would be determined after a survey of the area was conducted.

He said various district departments and Nazims of areas concerned had been directed to conduct a survey about the loss of life and to property in Sindh so that a relief package for the affected people could be announced by the government.

The Sindh Democratic Alliance president maintained that besides Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, the desert areas of Sindh had also been hit hard by the recent heavy downpour.

He said he along with his party leaders would visit the areas so that the actual situation there could be placed before the cabinet meeting.

He also appealed to workers and leaders of the SDA to cooperate in relief measures.

Replying to a question, he denied any differences among partners of the coalition government and said the Sindh government was strong and the cabinet was working as a team under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar. He said reports about differences were baseless.