Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 15: The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has confirmed that Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old student from Karnataka who had been missing since February 9, has been found dead.

Saketh, a native of Karnataka, was a postgraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a Master’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, having graduated in 2025.

Local police authorities in California confirmed the recovery of the body on Saturday afternoon following a six-day search operation. According to reports from the Berkeley Police Department, the body was located in the Berkeley Hills area.

Saketh was last seen on the morning of February 9. During the course of the investigation, his backpack, which contained his laptop and passport, was discovered on a doorstep in the neighborhood. The search operation involved local police and consulate officials who had been looking for the student for the past six days.

The Consulate General of India in San Francisco issued a statement expressing condolences to the family. "The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police have confirmed the recovery of the body of the missing student from Karnataka, Saketh Sreenivasaiah. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time," the mission stated.

The Consulate further confirmed that it is in direct contact with the student's family and is coordinating with local authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the mortal remains to India.

Prior to the discovery, Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh had reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking diplomatic assistance to locate the student after his disappearance was reported to the Berkeley Police Department.