Indian Student Found Dead in California; Consulate Assures Repatriation Support

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 15, 2026: A 22-year-old Indian student from Karnataka, who had gone missing in California, has been found dead, the Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a master’s student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He was reported missing on February 9.

In a statement, the Consulate General of India, San Francisco said local police have recovered his body and assured all necessary assistance for the repatriation of mortal remains to India at the earliest. The Consulate extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Following his disappearance, a citywide search was launched in the Lake Anza and Berkeley Hills areas after he was last seen about a kilometre from the campus. His backpack, containing his passport and laptop, was later found near a residence close to Tilden Regional Park. Community members also mobilised online, including through social media forums, to aid search efforts.

Sreenivasaiah was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and had completed his schooling at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru. According to his professional profile, he was among the co-inventors holding a patent for a microchannel cooling system for hyperloop technology.

Meanwhile, in response to a query raised by Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi on student safety abroad, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Indian missions regularly engage with students overseas, conduct orientation sessions, and issue advisories to address potential risks and challenges.