Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, a renowned scientist and cyclone warning specialist from Odisha, took over as the Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday.
He was appointed as the IMD chief by the Central Government last month.
Mohapatra (54) is also a permanent representative of India with the WMO and a member of WMO Executive Council. He hails from Bhadrak district in Odisha.
Known for his accurate cyclone forecasts, Mohapatra was leading the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD. He and his team have credited not only for their accurate forecast on cyclones, its wind-speed and likely impact on life and property including during the recent cyclone Fani that hit Odisha coast in May but also during Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014) and Titli (2018) hit the eastern coast.
Prior to joining the IMD, Mohapatra, who did his Masters in Physics, joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratory in Chandipur in Balasore. He was also working as a Lecturer in Physics at DK College in Jaleswar in Balasore district for two years between 1990 and 1992.
He has been appointed as IMD DG for a period of five years.
