Climate scientist Krishna AchutaRao dies at 62

What Happened

Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, died on September 4, 2026. He was 62 years old. His work focused on the attribution of climate change to human activities and the impacts of climate change on regional Indian weather patterns. He helped set up IIT Delhi’s Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Adaptation and contributed to studies linking global climate science with regional risks in India.

AchutaRao was involved with international research networks, including the World Weather Attribution group and the World Climate Research Programme. He had been noted for applying AI tools in climate change and monsoon research, and he collaborated with scientists across institutions to assess extreme weather events and their human drivers. His colleagues described him as a principled critic and a thoughtful scientist who engaged broadly with science communication and policy relevance. He was also linked to work on strengthening early warning systems for climate risk in India. His wife, Mila Mitra, is an astrophysicist and co-founder of an education company focused on science outreach.

Why It Matters

AchutaRao’s work linked global attribution research with regional risk assessment, helping inform how India evaluates and responds to extreme events such as heat waves and monsoon variability. His role in establishing institutional capacity at IIT Delhi and his participation in international attribution networks contributed to the credibility and application of attribution science in policy and risk management in India.