Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam promises support to

The Centre on Tuesday assured all support and co-operation to rebuild Pamba at the foot hills of the famous Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala washed away in the floods that ravaged the state last month.

Talking to reporters after visiting Pamba and assessing the damage caused in the area, Union Minister of state for Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam expressed hope that reconstruction work at Pamba-Triveni confluence would begin soon.

He also assured all necessary support to protect Pamba.

Meanwhile, the state government said the immediate relief of Rs 10,000 for flood affected people has been disbursed to nearly five lakh people so far.

State Minister for Revenue E Chandrasekharan told reporters here that nearly 82 per cent of the eligible have received the immediate relief amount.

Lack of bank accounts is posing a hurdle for distribution of the amount to nearly one lakh people, he said adding the issue would be sorted out soon.

Drafts of Rehabilitation package and Memorandum, on the loss and damage suffered, to be submitted to the Centre was on, the minister said.

Chandrasekharan rejected the Congress led UDF Opposition charge that the administration including relief operations have come to standstill in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is in the US for treatment.

"Relief work is progressing as planned and there is no truth in the opposition charge," he said.

Attacking the CPI-M led LDF government, Leader of Opposition in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the flood affected people have not received any relief from the government.

"Nothing is happening in the government," Chennithala alleged.

As per the latest bulletin from State Disaster Management Control Room, nearly 4,700 people were still in relief camps in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Idukki districts.

The deluge last month triggered by torrential monsoon rains had left a trail of destruction in the state and claimed 491 lives since May 29.