Renowned scientist and cyclone warning specialist Mrutyunjay Mohapatra was on Tuesday appointed as the chief of India Meteorological Department (IMD), according to a Personnel Ministry order.
Mohapatra and his team at the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD have earned praise for their accurate forecasts on cyclones, its wind-speed and likely impact on life and property including during the recent cyclone ‘Fani’, when their timely warnings enabled the authorities to ensure early evacuation of millions of people.
The 54-year-old Scientist ‘G’ and Additional Director General in the IMD has been appointed as Director General of Meteorology, IMD, for a period of five years, the order said. He will assume charge in August. The IMD is responsible for weather and climate-related forecasts in the country. It is also mandated to issue warning to people about severe weather phenomenon like cyclones, dust storms, heavy rain and snow, cold and heatwaves, among others.
Besides strengthening IMD’s infrastructure, he said his priority will be to improve dissemination of weather-related information — from nowcasts to weather forecasts — focus on sector-related forecast and give impact-based prediction in all areas. Through sector-related forecasts, IMD intends to give predictions on specific areas e.g. Information for transport systems like trains.