Guwahati: Renowned climate scientist and IIT Delhi professor Krishna AchutaRao died on September 4, 2026, at the age of 62, leaving behind a significant body of work in climate attribution and atmospheric science.
AchutaRao was a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and was widely recognised for his research into the influence of human activity on observed climate change.
His collaborative research helped establish the extent to which human-induced climate change could be detected in temperature trends across different parts of India. His work contributed to linking global climate research with the regional climate risks faced by the country.
Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, remembered AchutaRao as both a close colleague and a principled voice in the scientific community. He said AchutaRao was known for questioning compromises in scientific rigour and would be deeply missed by colleagues and friends.
During his nearly two decades at IIT Delhi, AchutaRao served as Head of the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences and later as Dean (Faculty). He also played a role in establishing the institute’s Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation.
An engineering graduate, AchutaRao had earlier worked with the Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States. He returned to India in 2007 and continued his academic and research career at IIT Delhi.
His research in recent years included the attribution of extreme climate events such as heatwaves. He also explored the use of artificial intelligence in climate-change and monsoon research.
Former Earth Sciences secretary and ATRIA University Vice Chancellor Madhavan Rajeevan described AchutaRao as a “wonderful person” and highlighted his contributions to climate-event attribution and the application of AI in climate research.
AchutaRao was also a member of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme from 2025.
His death has also drawn tributes from former students. Dileepkumar R., an assistant professor at Kumbalathu Sankupillai Memorial Devaswom Board College in Kerala, who completed his PhD under AchutaRao’s supervision, described him as a scientist of exceptional ability and integrity who was deeply committed to society.
AchutaRao’s passing marks a significant loss for India’s climate science community, particularly at a time when research into extreme weather, climate attribution and adaptation is becoming increasingly important.