New Delhi: A 22-year-old Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, has been found dead in California, six days after he was reported missing. The tragic discovery has sent shockwaves through the Indian student community both in the United States and back home in Karnataka.
Missing Near UC Berkeley Campus
Sreenivasaiah, a native of Karnataka, was pursuing a master’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
He was last seen on February 9, around a kilometre away from the campus, prompting a citywide search in areas around Lake Anza and the Berkeley Hills.
Body Recovered; Consulate Assures Assistance
The Consulate General of India, San Francisco confirmed that local authorities recovered his body.
In a statement posted on X, the Consulate expressed deep regret and extended heartfelt condolences to his family. It assured that all necessary assistance would be provided, including coordination with local authorities and arrangements for the repatriation of his mortal remains to India at the earliest.
Consular officials are reportedly in direct contact with the family to support them through required formalities.
Personal Belongings Found During Search
During the search operation, a backpack containing Sreenivasaiah’s passport and laptop was discovered near a residence close to Tilden Regional Park, not far from the university campus.
Community members also mobilised online, creating a Reddit thread to coordinate search efforts and share information in an attempt to locate him.
Academic Achievements and Background
Sreenivasaiah was an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Madras and had completed his schooling at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he was among six inventors who held a patent for a microchannel cooling system designed for hyperloop technology.
Friends and colleagues remembered him as intelligent, humble, quick-witted, and deeply loyal.
Tragic End to Six-Day Search
The recovery of Saketh Sreenivasaiah’s body marks a tragic conclusion to the six-day search operation. Authorities have not yet publicly disclosed further details surrounding the circumstances of his death.
The Indian Consulate remains committed to extending full support to his grieving family during this profoundly difficult time.