Kotpad 14th Aug 2025: Raghunath Padhi, a senior frontline football player from the Kotpad area, has passed away due to a heart attack. The late Raghunath Padhi was 85 years old at the time of his death. According to reports, he died of a heart attack yesterday around 12 noon at his son’s residence in Bangalore.
The late Raghunath Padhi was not only an excellent teacher but also a highly skilled football player. In addition, he set various records and earned praise as a badminton player and runner for the undivided Koraput district. Until his death, he actively carried out his daily duties, often riding his bicycle, and also helped with religious ceremonies and various intellectual activities.
He had played football and badminton at both state and inter-state levels, setting records along the way. As one of the senior sportsmen of undivided Koraput district, he encouraged various sports and sportspersons. Raghunath Padhi played a key role in the establishment of the historic Gopabandhu Library in Kotpad and inspired both the sports and library movements.
His passing has cast a shadow of grief across various intellectual and social circles. Former football player and ex-MLA Chandra Sekhar Majhi, former minister Smt. Padmini Dian, MLA Rupu Bhattarai, NAC Chairman M. Shankar Rao, Press Club President Pankaj Patra, Bar Association President Mani Patnaik, senior advocate Jitendra Nath Mohapatra, Gopabandhu Library President Ganesh Chandra Panda, Seetanath Biswal, Gopinath Bishoi, Tarini Mandal, S. Manchan Nayak, Abhimanyu Mallik, Ranganath Hota, Bipin Nayak, Topan Mohapatra, along with all members of Brahmin Sahi, family members, and many prominent individuals attended the funeral procession.
It was informed that after the mortal remains arrived from Bangalore today, the cremation was carried out in Kotpad.