During the British Raj , the British Indian government bestowed the title of " Rani " ( " Queen " ) on a local woman named Islon , for the services rendered by her to the government . Even after India became independent in 1947 , Islon and her only daughter Lachmi were treated as queens by the local villagers , although the government did not recognize them as such . After Lachmi 's death in 1989 , her only daughter Fathima became the village leader . She had eight children , including five daughters and three sons ; her family of 42 lived in three buildings , locally known as Rani Ghat ( " Queen 's Palace " ) . After the village was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami , 72-year old Fathima and her family were evacuated by the Indian authorities to Port Blair . The Tsunami caused two deaths in the village , that of a local woman named Jennifer , and of a man who was a resident of the neighbouring Katchal Island . The villagers decided to select an elevated land to rebuild their village
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Champin