Odisha’s Mrutyunjay Mohapatra Honored with UN Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction
Bhubaneswar, June 10: Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has been awarded the prestigious United Nations Sasakawa Award 2025 for his exceptional contributions to disaster risk reduction. The recognition highlights his pioneering work in cyclone forecasting and early warning systems that have saved countless lives, especially in vulnerable coastal regions.
ଭାରତୀୟ ପାଣିପାଗ ବିଭାଗର ମହାନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଶ୍ରୀ ମୃତ୍ୟୁଞ୍ଜୟ ମହାପାତ୍ର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ଜାତିସଂଘ ସାସାକାୱା ପୁରସ୍କାର -୨୦୨୫ରେ ସମ୍ମାନିତ ହୋଇଥିବାରୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଜଣାଉଛି।
ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ବିପର୍ଯ୍ୟୟ ସମୟରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ସଠିକ ଆକଳନ ଅଗଣିତ ବହୁମୂଲ୍ୟ ଜୀବନ ରକ୍ଷା କରିବାରେ ସହାୟକ ହୋଇଛି।
ଜଣେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାବେ ଆପଣଙ୍କର ଏହି… pic.twitter.com/QMFYoisdtq— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) June 9, 2025
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik congratulated Mohapatra on this remarkable achievement. CM Majhi expressed pride in Mohapatra’s success, emphasizing the importance of his accurate assessments during natural disasters in protecting lives.
Known as the “Cyclone Man of India,” Mohapatra hails from Bhadrak district and has served as IMD’s Director General since 2019. In addition to his national role, he is one of the vice-presidents of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), a UN agency dedicated to climate, weather, and water issues.
The award was presented during the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction session held recently in Geneva. Earlier this year, Mohapatra also received the Outstanding Service Award 2025 from the American Meteorological Society, recognizing his transformative work in improving cyclone prediction and warning systems.
Expressing his gratitude, Mohapatra said, “I am truly honored to receive the United Nations Sasakawa Award for disaster risk reduction.”
This accolade not only honors Mohapatra’s dedication but also highlights Odisha’s leadership in disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.