A father’s only hope: Accident survivor fights for life

Guwahati: In a modest home in Kamrup district, a father sits by his son’s bed, his eyes heavy with grief and hope. Dipankar Kalita, 22, the lone survivor of Sunday’s road accident that claimed four lives, is fighting for recovery at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.For his parents — a daily-wage labourer and a homemaker — Dipankar is not just their son, but their only light in a life of hardship.For Dipankar’s family, every passing hour at the hospital is a prayer. “He is our only hope,” his father whispered, his voice trembling.The tragedy has torn through families bound by friendship and struggle. Among the dead are Chandan, 25, and Arnav, whose age police are yet to confirm. Both had recently found work at a plastic pipe factory in Mirza — a small step toward building a future and supporting their families back home.“They were unmarried, simple persons trying to make a living,” said a police officer. “Arnav would visit his parents in Nalbari every weekend. He was very close to them.”The accident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, also involved Jyoti, 24, and Nikhil, whose details are still being verified.Back in their villages, silence hangs heavy. Neighbours speak in hushed tones, recalling laughter that once filled the lanes. Mothers clutch photographs, fathers stare at the horizon, and friends gather at doorsteps — all struggling to comprehend how a night of celebration ended in such sorrow.