In a deeply concerning development for the Indian student community abroad, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old postgraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, has been reported missing. Originally from Karnataka, Sreenivasaiah is a high-achieving scholar who recently completed his Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in 2025. The news of his disappearance has sparked an intensive search operation and drawn the attention of top diplomatic officials.
Disappearance and the Search Operation
Saketh Sreenivasaiah was last seen on Monday, February 9, 2026. According to local law enforcement, he was spotted approximately one kilometer from the UC Berkeley campus in the 1700 block of Dwight Way on the following day, February 10. Since then, there has been no further confirmed sighting or communication from him.
The investigation took a significant turn when a backpack, believed to belong to Saketh, was recovered near a residential property close to Tilden Regional Park. The park, known for its vast trails and the popular Lake Anza, is located in the Berkeley Hills. Reports indicate that the bag contained his essential belongings, including his laptop and passport, which has heightened the urgency of the search as it suggests he may be without his identification and communication tools.
In response, the Berkeley Police Department has launched a citywide search, with teams focusing their efforts on the rugged terrain of the Berkeley Hills and the area surrounding Lake Anza. Authorities have officially classified Saketh as being “at-risk” and are urging anyone with information to step forward.
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Academic Background and Personal Profile
Saketh is described by those who know him as a dedicated and brilliant student. After graduating from IIT Madras in 2025, he moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Science in Product Development within the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley.
On his professional profiles, Saketh expressed a deep passion for cutting-edge technology. He described himself as being particularly interested in “deep-tech innovations in soft and active materials, semiconductors, and advanced materials.” His physical description has been shared widely to aid in identification: he is 6 feet 1 inch tall, with short black hair and brown eyes.
Diplomatic Response and Community Support
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has expressed “deep concern” regarding Saketh’s disappearance. In an official statement shared on social media, the Consulate confirmed they are in constant communication with the student’s family in Karnataka and are working closely with local US authorities to ensure every resource is being utilized to locate him.
The disappearance has also mobilized the local student and Indian-origin community in California. Saketh’s roommate and fellow students have taken to LinkedIn and other social platforms to circulate flyers and coordinate volunteer search efforts. The Indian community has been particularly proactive in spreading the word, hoping that increased visibility will lead to a breakthrough in the case.
Concerns Over Student Safety Abroad
This incident adds to a growing conversation regarding the safety and security of Indian students pursuing higher education in foreign countries. While the circumstances of Saketh’s disappearance remain under investigation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has previously reiterated its commitment to prioritizing the safety of Indian nationals abroad.
Government officials often utilize platforms like the MADAD portal and specific emergency WhatsApp groups to maintain contact with the student diaspora, and the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) remains available to provide support in such times of distress. For now, the focus remains entirely on the safe return of the IIT Madras alumnus, as his family and the academic community wait anxiously for news from the Berkeley Hills.
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