A 22-year-old Indian student from Karnataka, who had been missing in California for six days, has been found dead, the Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed on Sunday, 15th February. The student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, was studying for a master’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.
According to local media, Saketh’s body was recovered from Lake Anza on Saturday afternoon after an extensive search involving sonar, drones and divers. Divers working with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office located the body just after 2 pm, reported Berkeley Scanner. Access to the lake and its surrounding areas was closed to the public during the search operation.
The case will now be probed by Contra Costa County coroner’s office.
After the body was pulled out of the lake, Sreenivasaiah’s roommate Baneet Singh identified him. He said, “The police shared this with me so far, and Im currently working with authorities to fly his family to America from India on an emergency visa.” Singh added that Sreenivasaiah’s mood had changed in recent times, and he had started to eat less and engage less, adding that he had simply “stopped caring” about life.
The Indian Consulate in San Francisco stated that the local police had recovered the student’s body and that they are in touch with the family of the deceased student. The Indian Consulate expressed its deepest sorrow over the student’s death and stated that it would assist with all the formalities.
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.
— India in San Francisco (@CGISFO) February 14, 2026
The Consulate stands…
“We are in touch with the family and local authorities and are helping with the formalities, including the repatriation of the mortal remains to India at the earliest,” the Consulate stated in the message posted on X.
On 9th February, Saketh was last seen near Lake Anza in the Berkeley Hills, approximately a kilometre from the UC Berkeley campus, before he went missing.
After he did not return, police began a wide search operation in and around the hills and nearby Tilden Regional Park. A few days later, his backpack was found on a doorstep in the neighbourhood. The bag contained his passport and laptop, which increased concerns about his safety.
Saketh had completed his B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras in 2025 before moving to the United States for higher studies. According to his LinkedIn profile, he had recently started his master’s programme at UC Berkeley.
Saketh’s roommate, Baneet Singh, had appealed for help on social media. In a LinkedIn post, Singh said Saketh had been missing since 9th February and requested anyone with information to come forward. He mentioned that he was working closely with the police and described it as a very difficult time.
Back in India, Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh had written to the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking diplomatic support while the search was ongoing. The Indian Consulate was also actively coordinating with local police during this period.
The exact cause of Saketh’s death has not yet been made public. Authorities are examining all possible angles, including whether it could be a case of suicide linked to personal reasons such as unrequited love. Officials have not released further details, and the investigation is underway.
