Bhubaneswar: Director General of the India Meteorological Department Mrutyunjay Mohapatra recently received the 2025 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction.
He was awarded at the eighth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held in Geneva, for his exceptional contributions to tropical cyclone forecasting and warning systems.
Mohapatra hails from Odisha and is often referred to as the ‘cyclone man of India’. He has been heading the IMD since 2019. He is one of the three vice-presidents of the World Meteorological Organisation, the UN agency for climate change, weather and water.
Mohapatra has made scientific weather forecasting accessible to vulnerable communities, saving numerous lives and reducing disaster impacts nationwide. He introduced impact-based forecasting, customising warnings for farmers, fishermen, infrastructure, and disaster managers, enhancing the Meteorological Department’s accuracy, clarity, and public trust.
His efforts in reducing cyclone-related deaths extend beyond India to 13 WMO/ESCAP Panel member countries around the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.
Established in 1986 with support from The Nippon Foundation, the Sasakawa Award is one of the world’s most esteemed honours in the domain of disaster risk reduction. It recognises outstanding contributions to building community resilience and reducing disaster risk.
Earlier this year, Mohapatra received the Scientific and Technological Activities Commission Outstanding Service Award 2025 from the American Meteorological Society in recognition of his transformative work in enhancing tropical cyclone prediction and warning systems
