A year after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised Rs.100,000 as compensation to relatives of 130 people killed by tsunami in Kerala, seven of them are yet to see the money.

The monster waves struck the coastal districts of Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam Dec 26 last year and left 176 people dead and 2,197 injured. Close to 5,000 houses were fully or partially destroyed.

Kollam was the most hit.

After the disaster, Manmohan Singh visited here had handed over State Bank of Travancore (SBT) passbooks to five relatives of the victims, promising them Rs.100,000 as compensation from the central government.

Mini, 22, daughter of Ganesan who was washed away, told: "The prime minister had handed over an SBT passbook to my mother at a relief camp and said Rs.100,000 would be given because of the death of my father.

"It is now going to be a year and none of those who received the passbooks in front of Manmohan Singh have received the money."

Baby and Priya, who lost both their children Kiran and Kingini in the tragedy, say five people were given passbooks on that day.

Baby said: "Several times we approached the Karunagapally branch of the bank to inquire about the money but it has not been credited so far."

K. James, the branch manager, said: "In all 130 people died here. Compensation from the central government has been paid to 123 of them.

"I do not know why payment has not been made to the seven. Maybe it is because of a technical lapse. I do not know why those who were handed over the passbooks in the presence of the prime minister have not been paid."

Shylaja and Biju are another couple who were given the passbook that day. They had lost their three-year-old daughter.

Shylaja said: "When we go to the bank, they say there's no money in the account. We are heart-broken. Officials are just making us run from pillar to post."

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has promised to look into the case of the missing money.

Kollam District Collector V. Srinivas admitted to "a technical lapse" and said that was why compensation had not yet been paid to everyone.

"There has been an error in the processing of papers of these people. We have again taken up the issue with the Prime Minister's Office. We are certain the money will be credited in a few days."