Former chief of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Rajendra Kumar Pachauri passed away in New Delhi on Thursday. He breathed his last at the Escorts Heart Institute after a prolonged battle against heart illness. He was 79.

Meanwhile, TERI expressed sadness over Pachauri's death. "The entire TERI family stands with the family of Dr Pachauri in this hour of grief," it said in a press release. "His leadership of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change laid the ground for climate changeconversations today," said Nitin Desai, chairman of TERI.

Pachauri had to step downfrom his position in TERI after he was accused of sexually harassing a formerwoman colleague. However, Pachauri has consistently defended his innocence inthe matter.