IIT Delhi Bids Farewell to Climate‑Science Stalwart Prof. Krishna AchutaRao

It was a somber Friday at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi when the news broke: Prof. Krishna AchutaRao, a beloved professor from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, had died. The campus felt a quiet ripple, the sort that you only notice when a familiar voice is suddenly missing.

Prof AchutaRao’s journey at IIT Delhi spanned roughly twenty years. In that time, he didn’t just lecture; he wore many hats – Dean (Faculty), Head of the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, and even the driving force behind the institute’s Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation. You could say he was a bit of a one‑man powerhouse.

His research, frankly, was where his heart truly lived. Climate change, climate‑risk assessment and the thorny business of adaptation were his daily bread. He had a knack for turning complex climate models into something policymakers could actually use – a talent that made him a go‑to expert for both national and international panels.

Speaking of panels, Prof AchutaRao’s name popped up time and again in the big leagues – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the World Climate Research Programme, to name just two. His contributions weren’t limited to papers; they helped shape global climate policies, something he was quietly proud of.

Colleagues recall his office door being always ajar, his willingness to mentor a curious student, and his habit of slipping a dash of humor into even the most data‑heavy meetings. “He could make a climate model sound like a story you’d want to hear over tea,” one former student said, smiling through the grief.

The institute released a heartfelt condolence message, expressing deep sympathy to his family, friends, and the many students who regarded him as a mentor and a friend. The sentiment was clear: his absence is felt not just in lecture halls, but in every research project that now carries his imprint.

While the academic community mourns, it also celebrates a legacy that will linger – the climate‑adaptation frameworks he helped build, the international collaborations he nurtured, and the countless lives he inspired to look at the sky a little differently.

Prof Krishna AchutaRao’s passing marks the end of an era for IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, but his work will continue to echo in climate‑science circles worldwide. Rest in peace, professor – you’ll be missed, remembered, and forever quoted in the corridors you helped shape.