The scientific community is mourning the loss of Dr. Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, who passed away on September 4, 2026. He was 62. AchutaRao’s pioneering work helped clarify how human activities drive observed climate changes, particularly across India—a contribution that bridged global data with local realities.

  • Died on September 4, 2026, at age 62
  • Professor at IIT Delhi's Centre for Atmospheric Sciences
  • Key research on human attribution to climate change
  • Former Dean (Faculty) and Head of his Centre

A Scientific Bridge Builder

For over two decades, AchutaRao worked to demonstrate detectable human influence on temperature shifts in Indian sub-regions. His collaborative studies gave weight to the connection between greenhouse gas emissions and regional climate risks, making abstract global models feel urgently real for communities and policymakers.

Colleagues Remember a Friend and Critic

Those who knew him spoke of a scientist with warmth, principle, and humor. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist in Pune, called him “a clear and principled critic whenever scientific temper was compromised,” adding that his passing represents “a major loss to Indian climate science.”

“His passing is a major loss to Indian climate science, but for many of us it is also the loss of a warm, thoughtful friend with a wonderful sense of humour. I will miss him deeply.” — Roxy Mathew Koll

Madhavan Rajeevan, former Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, noted AchutaRao’s recent work on attributing extreme events like heatwaves and applying AI in climate research. “We will miss him,” he said simply.

Legacy of Mentorship and Integrity

Beyond his publications and titles—including Dean and Head of Centre—AchutaRao nurtured the next generation. One of his Ph.D. students, Dileepkumar R., remembered him as “a man of great integrity, a genuinely kind soul, and a person with deep commitment to society.” He also served on the World Climate Research Programme’s Joint Scientific Committee starting in 2025, extending his influence onto the global stage.

His career spanned continents, including earlier work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the U.S., before he returned to India in 2007. At IIT Delhi, he helped establish the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation—ensuring his work would continue to guide action long after his time.