Renowned Climate Scientist Krishna AchutaRao, IIT Delhi Professor, Dies at 62

Krishna AchutaRao, a prominent climate scientist and professor at IIT Delhi, died on Friday at the age of 62 after being unwell for some time.

A professor at IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, AchutaRao was widely recognised for his research into climate risks and attribution science — a field that examines how much human-induced climate change contributes to specific extreme weather events.

He was closely involved with World Weather Attribution, an international network of scientists that studies major weather disasters around the world to determine the role played by human-driven climate change.

AchutaRao also made significant contributions to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN-backed scientific body that periodically assesses the global impacts and risks associated with climate change.

Beyond his research, he was deeply committed to protecting vulnerable and marginalised communities from the growing risks posed by climate change. At IIT Delhi, he played a key role in establishing the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation.

He consistently advocated an interdisciplinary approach to climate research and stressed the need to expand and strengthen early warning systems across India. He was also regarded as an effective science communicator, known for breaking down complex climate concepts into language accessible to a wider audience.

Climate scientist Roxy Koll Mathew paid tribute to AchutaRao in a social media post, recalling his scientific rigour, meticulous attention to detail and sense of humour.

“Krishna AchutaRao was a long-time friend and colleague in the climate-and-science space,” Mathew wrote, adding that his “keen scientific temper” and “extraordinary attention to detail” were among the qualities that brought them closer.

AchutaRao’s work bridged climate science, disaster preparedness and public communication, with a particular focus on understanding how communities could better prepare for an increasingly climate-vulnerable future.

He is survived by his wife, Mila Mitra, an astrophysicist who has worked with NASA on several space projects. Mitra is also the co-founder and academic head of STEM & Space, an organisation focused on making science, particularly space science, accessible and engaging for schoolchildren.