UC Berkeley Student Found Dead After Six-Day Search

BERKELEY, CA – A 22-year-old Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, has been found dead in California, six days after he was reported missing.

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, about a kilometer from campus, triggering a citywide search that focused on the Lake Anza area and the Berkeley Hills.

The Consulate General of India, San Francisco, confirmed that local authorities had recovered his body and said it would provide all necessary assistance to repatriate his remains to India at the earliest.

In a statement posted on X, the Consulate said, “The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police have confirmed the recovery of the body of the missing Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time.

“The Consulate stands ready to provide all necessary assistance to the family, including coordination with local authorities and arrangements for the repatriation of mortal remains to India at the earliest. Our consular officers are in direct contact with the family and will support them with all required formalities and services.”

During the search, a backpack containing Sreenivasaiah’s passport and laptop was discovered near a residence close to Tilden Regional Park, not far from the university. Community members also mobilized online, creating a Reddit thread to coordinate search efforts and share information.

Sreenivasaiah was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and had completed his schooling at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru. He was described as six feet one inch tall, weighing about 160 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he was among six inventors listed on a patent for a microchannel cooling system for hyperloop and a related method. Friends and colleagues remembered him as quick witted, humble, brilliant and deeply loyal. (IANS)