WMO Third Vice-President Mohapatra wins top disaster risk reduction award
WMO congratulates its Third Vice-President, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director-General of the India Meteorological Department, who has won one of the world’s top disaster risk reduction awards in recognition of his exceptional contributions to tropical cyclone forecasting and warning systems.
Dr Mohapatra, who is popularly known as the Cyclone Man of India, won the individual category of the 2025 Sasakawa Award, along with Prof. Harkunti Rahayu, from the Indonesian Disaster Expert Association.
The award was announced at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. It said Dr Mohapatra has been instrumental in improving India's disaster preparedness and significantly reducing casualties from tropical cyclones through advanced forecasting and early warning systems.
The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction recognizes outstanding contributions to building community resilience and reducing disaster risk.
“Dr Mohapatra is a widely respected figure in the field of disaster risk reduction and early warning. His outstanding leadership has elevated the India Meteorological Department as a national and international key player,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo in a support letter.
“Under his direction, IMD has significantly advanced the accuracy and effectiveness of tropical cyclone prediction systems in the Indian Ocean region, saving countless lives through early warning and coordinated preparedness efforts,” she wrote.
“WMO plays a vital role in communicating science to people to reduce risks from hydrological and meteorological hazards. The recognition I’ve received would not have been possible without the contributions of numerous government and non-government organizations in India and around the world — especially WMO. As a cyclone survivor, and often called the ‘Cyclone Man of India,’ I have dedicated my career to advancing the vision of minimizing loss of life and property from cyclones in the North Indian Ocean. Science and technology, combined with effective early warning communication that reaches the last mile, are key to achieving this goal. None of this progress would be possible without the active involvement of many partners, nationally and internationally. WMO has played a major role, particularly through its leadership in the regional systems I had the honor to help advance. I sincerely thank WMO for the opportunity to contribute to the global mission of Early Warnings for All.” said Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
Earlier this year, Dr 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.
India, through IMD and other national institutions, plays a vital role in global meteorological and disaster risk reduction efforts hosting the WMO Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre - Tropical Cyclones New Delhi, which is responsible for delivering forecasts and advance warnings in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
Timely and accurate warnings of the track and intensity of Tropical Cyclone Mocha in 2023 triggered national action and community mobilization in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mocha was one most powerful storms ever to hit the region, but loss of life was minimized because of the forecasts and advance preparations.
IMD also actively supports WMO’s Severe Weather Forecasting programme, delivering fit-for-purpose weather information to humanitarian actors around the world.