DARBHANGA, Jan. 12 -- Maharani Kamsundari Devi, the last surviving Maharani of the erstwhile Darbhanga Raj and widow of Maharajadhiraja Sir Kameshwar Singh, passed away in the early hours of Monday at Kalyani Niwas in Darbhanga. She was 93 and had been unwell for the past few months.

Her death marks the end of the last living royal link to one of eastern India's most influential zamindari and cultural legacies.

The last rites were performed at the Madhmeshwar Temple premises, the private crematorium of the Darbhanga Raj, where the funeral pyre was lit by her grandnephew, Ratneshwar Singh, in accordance with traditions.

Darbhanga district magistrate Kaushal Kumar was among the first to pay floral tributes on behalf of the district admin...