Indian student found dead in US, days after going missing

The 22-year-old Karnataka student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, who went missing six days ago in San Francisco, has been found dead.

Confirming the development, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco wrote on X that the body of Saketh had been recovered and assured assistance to the family in the repatriation of his mortal 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. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time,” the statement said.

While the Consulate General did not reveal the circumstances of the death, it stated, “Our consular officers are in direct contact with the family and will support them with all required formalities and services.”

However, Saketh’s friend, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote on LinkedIn that the latter had been found dead in Lake Anza near Berkeley Hills. Saketh was a postgraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a Master of Science (Product Development Programme) since August 2025. According to local media reports, Saketh went missing on Tuesday (February 10). His backpack, containing his passport and laptop, was found on a doorstep in the Park Hills neighbourhood, The Berkeley Scanner news portal reported. Saketh was last seen in the 1700 block of Dwight Way, the report quoted police as saying. He was described as approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing around 73 kilograms, with short black hair and brown eyes.

Saketh’s friend wrote on LinkedIn that there had been no indication of anything until the last two weeks, when Saketh started eating less and engaging less, surviving mainly on chips and cookies.

Saketh completed his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. According to his LinkedIn profile, he holds a patent for inventing a “microchannel cooling system for hyperloop.” He graduated in 2025 and moved to California a few months later.