RK Pachauri, the former chief of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), passed away on Thursday after a prolonged heart disease. The 79-year-old had been put on life support at the Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi on Wednesday.
TERI director general Ajay Mathur confirmed his death and the official TERI account tweeted a tribute.
In a statement, his family said Pachauri underwent a major heart surgery after he was admitted to Escorts Heart Institute on Tuesday before succumbing to his deteriorating health on Thursday at his residence in the national capital with his wife, daughter and son by his side.
"It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing away of RK Pachauri, the founder Director of TERI. The entire TERI family stands with the family of Dr Pachauri in this hour of grief," TERI Director General Ajay Mathur said in the statement. "TERI is what it is because of Dr Pachauri's untiring perseverance. He played a pivotal role in growing this institution, and making it a premier global organisation in the sustainability space."
Pachauri won the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, the third and second highest civilian awards of the country.
He had to step down from his position in TERI after he was accused of sexually harassing a former woman colleague. A district court had in October 2018 framed molestation charges against him. Pachauri had repeatedly denied the allegations levelled against him.