Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old student from Karnataka who had been missing in San Francisco for nearly a week, has been found dead, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco confirmed on Sunday. The mission said local police recovered his body and are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
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Saketh, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, had last been reported missing on Monday (February 9). His disappearance had prompted concern among family members in Bengaluru and led to appeals for assistance through official channels. The Consulate said it is extending all possible support to the family, including facilitating 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,” the mission said in a statement, adding that it is in touch with U.S. authorities regarding further formalities.
Saketh had completed his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, before moving to the United States for higher studies. Described by acquaintances as academically bright and soft-spoken, he had recently begun his graduate programme at UC Berkeley.
Family members had earlier sought the intervention of the Ministry of External Affairs after losing contact with him. Student groups and members of the Indian diaspora in the Bay Area had also circulated missing-person alerts on social media over the past week.
Local law enforcement agencies have not yet disclosed the cause of death, and officials said the investigation remains ongoing. No foul play has been confirmed so far, and authorities are awaiting the results of medical and forensic examinations.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of international students and the challenges families face when emergencies occur overseas. Indian missions in the U.S. typically coordinate with universities, local police and community organisations in such cases to trace missing students and provide logistical support to relatives.
Further details are expected once the U.S. authorities complete their inquiry and release the autopsy findings.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
