Eminent sculptor and Rajya Sabha MP Raghunath Mohapatra died at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar on Sunday afternoon. He was 78. He tested Covid positive and was admitted at AIIMS for treatment on April 22. He was shifted to ICU on April 25. He was in a critical condition and remained on ventilator support since then. His two sons also tested Covid positive and are being treated.
Born in Puri, Mohapatra received the Padma Vibhushan in 2013.
Mohapatra had a dream to construct a second Konark temple with all the detailed sculptures and art works existed in the original Konark temple. For this he has purchased 100 acres of land near Puri.