The son Ritam is currently battling for life.They had gone to visit the ashram to seek the blessings of their guru, as their son had scored 85 per cent in exams. Dressed up in new clothes and in a perfect holiday mood, Dr Ranadeb Ghoshal(50), Dr Ipshita Ghosal(45), and their children —- son Ritam (18) and daughter Roopsa (15)—- left their Lake Gardens home last night to the ashram, situated in a small town, and reached there in the wee hours.
After offering puja and completing the rituals, the family left the ashram around six o clock on Monday morning. Within thirty minutes, the car reached the railway crossing near the Katwa railway station. The drizzle made it difficult for Ranadeb, who was driving the car, to notice that the Howrah-Katwa local was approaching. Since the crossing was not guarded, there was no signal to restrict the entry of the vehicle into the railways tracks. The train knocked down the car, throwing it 25 metres off the spot.
While Ranadeb, Ipshita and Roopsa died instantaneously, profusely bleeding Ritam was rushed to the local hospital. He was transferred to a private nursing home in Kolkata on Monday night. The accident disrupted train services at the Howrah-Katwa section for three hours in the morning.
“Uncle and aunty were so happy with Ritam’s results. Aunty even packed Ritam’s favourite sweets before they left for the ashram,” recalls Soukarjo Ghoshal—- Ranadeb’s nephew. Soukarjo was the first one to receive the news of the accident from the police. The bodies arrived in the afternoon. Bereaved at the incident, Binapani Ghoshal, the 80-year-old mother of Ranadeb, is now praying for the survival of her grandson.