Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old Indian student from Karnataka, was found dead in California six days after he went missing. He had disappeared on 9 February while pursuing his Master’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed that local authorities recovered his body and assured that all assistance would be provided for the repatriation of his remains to India. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time,” the consulate said.

Sreenivasaiah was enrolled in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at UC Berkeley under the Master of Science (MS) Product Development Programme, scheduled from August 2025 to May 2026.

Bachelors degree at IIT Madras

Prior to his studies in the United States, he completed a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, from October 2021 to June 2025. He had also gained industry experience in India, including roles at the Polymer Engineering and Colloid Science Lab at IIT Madras as an Undergraduate Researcher and Young Research Fellow, and a stint as a Young Research Fellow at Unilever. Additionally, he undertook a Research and Development internship at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in Hyderabad.

Beyond academics, Sreenivasaiah was active in student leadership at IIT Madras. He held several positions with E-Cell IIT Madras, including Head of Growth & Strategic Initiatives (June 2023 – March 2024), Executive of Development & Associations (May 2022 – May 2023), and Associative Executive (February – April 2022). He also served as a Legislator in the Department of Chemical Engineering from April 2024 to May 2025.

Sreenivasaiah’s LinkedIn profile highlighted his passion for “deep-tech innovations in soft and active materials, semiconductors, and advanced materials.”

A citywide search was launched around Lake Anza and the Berkeley Hills after he was last seen roughly a kilometre from campus. Authorities later found his backpack, containing his passport and laptop, near a residence close to Tilden Regional Park, near the university.