US: Missing Indian student found dead after 6 days
15 Feb 2026

Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old Indian postgraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, has been found dead.

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed his death on Sunday.

The consulate expressed its condolences to Sreenivasaiah's family and assured them of support in repatriating his remains to India.

"The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police have confirmed the recovery of the body of the missing Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah," it said in a statement.

Sreenivasaiah went missing near Lake Anza
Disappearance details

Sreenivasaiah went missing near Lake Anza in Tilden Regional Park, California. He was last seen on February 9, and his family had last spoken to him that day.

The Indian mission in San Francisco had expressed concern over his disappearance and confirmed they were in touch with local authorities and Sreenivasaiah's family.

Parents sought help from Karnataka Chief Secretary
Assistance sought

Sreenivasaiah's parents had sought help from the Karnataka Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, on February 13.

They said his roommates searched all known locations before filing a complaint with the Berkeley Police Department.

The Karnataka government also requested the Ministry of External Affairs for assistance in locating Sreenivasaiah.

What the Indian consulate said
Support promised

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco had said it was ready to provide all necessary assistance to Sreenivasaiah's family. They assured coordination with local authorities and arrangements for the repatriation of his remains.

"Our consular officers are in direct contact with the family and will support them with all required formalities and services," the consulate had said.

Who is Saketh Sreenivasaiah
Background details

Sreenivasaiah was enrolled in a postgraduate program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley.

He was an alumnus of IIT Madras and studied at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru.

His LinkedIn profile mentions he co-invented a "microchannel cooling system for hyperloop and a method thereof." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has highlighted its efforts to keep Indian students safe abroad.