UN award for IMD director general
Aizawl: Director general of meteorology at the
India Meteorological Department
(IMD), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, has been awarded the United Nations Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction, IMD's Mizoram State Meteorological Centre director Sudheer Kumar Dwivedi said on Friday.
Dwivedi said the award is a proud moment for the country and a recognition of India's significant progress in the field of disaster preparedness and early warning systems.
Established in 1986 with support from the Nippon Foundation, the UN Sasakawa Award is the most distinguished global recognition in the field of disaster risk reduction. It honours individuals and institutions that have made exceptional contributions to building disaster-resilient communities around the world.
The theme for the 2025 award, "Connecting science to people: Democratising access to innovation and technology for disaster-resilient communities," highlights the importance of ensuring that scientific advancements reach those most at risk. Dr. Mohapatra's efforts in enhancing cyclone forecasting and warning dissemination systems across the North Indian Ocean region — covering India and 13 other WMO/ESCAP Panel member countries — were instrumental in securing the award.
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Widely known as the "Cyclone Man of India" for his leadership in significantly reducing cyclone-related fatalities, Dr. Mohapatra has led the development of impact-based forecasting, helping tailor alerts to the needs of specific sectors like agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure and disaster management.
According to the IMD, the award not only recognises Dr. Mohapatra's exemplary service, but also underscores India's growing role in global disaster risk management. The IMD also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Earth Sciences, and the Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, for their guidance and continued encouragement in improving early warning systems that benefit not only India but the wider region as well.
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