bhubaneswar in a span of just 12 days tragedy struck the mohapatra family here known for stone sculpting thrice while noted sculptor and rajya sabha mp raghunath mohapatra died of covid infection on may 9 the virus killed his eldest son on thursday within 24 hours of snuffing the life out of his second son who passed away on wednesdaywhile his second son prashant 48 was a former ranji player bcci referee and coach raghunaths eldest son josabanta 52 was carrying forward the family tradition of stone carvingraghunath mohapatras eldest son also loses battle to covidraghunath who underwent treatment at aiims bhubaneswar had five children including three sons and two daughters his youngest son sushant had died of heart attack six years ago raghunath mohapatra was a noble person and a devotee of lord jagannath yet his family had to undergo such suffering said ranjit nayak who had been assisting raghunath mohapatra for the last 11 yearsmohapatras wife rajani mohapatra 70 who has recovered from the infection was inconsolable following three successive deaths in the familyoffering his condolence union minister dharmendra pradhan tweeted i am deeply saddened by the death of josabanta mohapatra the eldest son of late ragunath mohapatra a prominent sculptor and rajya sabha mp the death of the second son after the sad demise of late mohapatra and now his eldest son is very disturbing and depressing raghunath mohapatras last rites were conducted at his native village in puri district with full state honours mohapatra was awarded padmshree in 1975 and padma bhusan in 2001 for his contribution to the field of art and culture