The body of Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old Indian student at the University of California, Berkeley, was recovered on Sunday, February 15, 2026, bringing an end to a six-day search, confirmed by the Indian mission in San Francisco.
Sreenivasaiah, originally from Karnataka, India, had been missing since February 9th, after last being seen near a lake at Tilden Regional Park in California. Local police initiated a search operation in the park area following his disappearance. Authorities later located his body, though details surrounding the circumstances of his death have not yet been released.
The Indian Consulate in San Francisco stated It’s prepared to assist Sreenivasaiah’s family with coordinating the repatriation of his remains to India. His father, Sreenivasaiah, had reported his son missing and expressed his concern, stating he last spoke with Saketh on February 9th and had been actively seeking information.
Saketh Sreenivasaiah was pursuing a Master of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley, specializing in Product Development, with his program scheduled to conclude in May 2026. Prior to his studies at Berkeley, he earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, graduating in June 2025.
IIT Madras’ E-Cell issued a statement acknowledging Sreenivasaiah’s passing, noting his contributions and impact. According to his LinkedIn profile, Sreenivasaiah was focused on deep-tech innovation, with particular interests in soft and active materials, semiconductors, and advanced materials research.
During his time at IIT Madras, Sreenivasaiah held research positions at the Polymer Engineering and Colloid Science Lab, first as a Young Research Fellow and later as an Undergraduate Researcher. He also completed internships at Unilever and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in Hyderabad. He was actively involved in extracurricular activities, serving in leadership roles within E-Cell IIT Madras, including Head of Growth & Strategic Initiatives and Executive for Development & Associations.
The search for Sreenivasaiah involved authorities examining the area around Lake Anza and the Berkeley Hills. A backpack containing his passport and laptop was discovered near a residence close to Tilden Regional Park during the search.
