Indian Student At UC Berkeley Found Dead 6 Days After Disappearance

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An Indian student from Karnataka was found dead in California, six days after he went missing near the University of California, Berkeley. The student, identified as Saketh Sreenivasaiah, was pursuing a master’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley. He went missing on February 9 after he was last seen about a kilometre from the campus, in the area around Lake Anza and the Berkeley Hills.

Local authorities launched a search in and around Lake Anza and Tilden Regional Park after his disappearance. During the search, a backpack containing his passport and laptop was reportedly found near a residence close to the park.

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco confirmed that police have recovered Sreenivasaiah’s body. In a statement posted on social media, the consulate said it “deeply regrets” having to inform his family and loved ones about the recovery and extended its condolences to them.

The consulate added that it is coordinating with local authorities and will assist the family with formalities, including arrangements to repatriate his remains to India at the earliest. Consular officers are in direct contact with the family in Karnataka.

Before the confirmation of his death, community members and fellow students had mobilised to help locate Sreenivasaiah. A dedicated Reddit thread and multiple social media posts shared his photographs and details, urging people in the Berkeley area to report any information.

His roommate also appealed for public assistance, writing that Sreenivasaiah had been missing since February 9 and was last seen near Lake Anza. The post noted that he was working “desperately” with police to help find him.

Sreenivasaiah was an alumnus of IIT Madras, where he completed his B.Tech before moving to the United States for his postgraduate studies. He previously studied at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru.

According to publicly available profiles, he was one of six inventors listed on a patent for a “microchannel cooling system for hyperloop and a method thereof.” Friends and acquaintances have described him as intelligent, humble and loyal, and noted his quick wit and academic focus.

The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of Indian student safety overseas. In a response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha by MP Asaduddin Owaisi, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently outlined the steps it says it takes to safeguard Indian students studying abroad.

According to the MEA, Indian missions and posts maintain regular contact with Indian students in their jurisdictions, conduct pre-orientation sessions on potential risks and precautions, and monitor incidents of violence against them. The ministry said missions raise any violent or untoward incidents with host governments, and can provide consular assistance such as emergency medical support, temporary accommodation, and other essential services, using the Indian Community Welfare Fund where required.

Local authorities in California continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sreenivasaiah’s death.

This story has been republished with permission from Diyatvusa.com.