Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a 22-year-old Indian postgraduate student from Karnataka studying at the University of California, Berkeley, has been missing since early February, prompting extensive search efforts in the East Bay area. Local police, Indian diplomatic missions and community volunteers are actively trying to trace his whereabouts.
Sreenivasaiah was last seen on 9 or 10 February near Lake Anza and the Berkeley Hills area, according to the Berkeley Police Department, which first categorised him as an “at-risk missing person” when he was reported missing on Tuesday.
Authorities have mobilised personnel from the Berkeley Police Department and the East Bay Regional Park District, focusing search efforts around Tilden Regional Park and Lake Anza, a popular recreational zone just east of the university campus.
In the days following his disappearance, a backpack believed to belong to Sreenivasaiah containing his passport and laptop was found on a doorstep in the Park Hills neighbourhood adjacent to the park. Police have not confirmed whether this discovery indicates foul play, but the item’s location has intensified concern about his welfare.
Local authorities have described Sreenivasaiah as being approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing about 160 pounds (73 kg), with short black hair and brown eyes. They have appealed directly to the public for any information that could help locate him.
Indian Consulate, Family and Friends Rally for Support
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has publicly expressed deep concern over the incident and confirmed it is coordinating closely with Sreenivasaiah’s family and United States authorities. In a social-media post, the mission reiterated that it is in contact with local law enforcement to assist in efforts to locate the student.
“Consulate General of India in San Francisco is deeply concerned about the disappearance of Saketh Sreenivasaiah, an Indian post-graduate student of UC Berkeley, hailing from the State of Karnataka,” the statement read, underlining ongoing diplomatic engagement in the case.
Friends and classmates have also taken to social media to widen the appeal for information. One of his roommates, Baneet Singh, reached out on LinkedIn, urging contacts in the area to share any leads and emphasising that police are deeply involved in pursuing all credible tips.
An active Reddit thread reflecting community concern shows individuals offering support, prayers and suggestions, and some even volunteering to assist with search efforts near Lake Anza, highlighting how the situation has touched both online and offline communities.
Academic Background and Personal Profile
Sreenivasaiah, originally from Karnataka, completed his Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 2025 before enrolling in the Master’s programme at UC Berkeley’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
On his LinkedIn profile, he is listed as a committed student with interests in deep-tech innovation, particularly in materials science and advanced semiconductors. Colleagues have described him as intelligent, humble and problem-solving, with a strong academic record.
Despite his recent achievements and active academic life, details surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance remain uncertain. Some local reports, still unconfirmed by official channels, indicate he might have been “upset about a relationship” prior to going missing a detail cited by some news agencies but not verified by police. Law enforcement has so far refrained from commenting on his mental state or motivations for leaving the area.
Growing Concern for Indian Students Abroad
Sreenivasaiah’s disappearance has not only rallied local search efforts but has also sparked broader conversations in India about the safety and support mechanisms available to Indian students pursuing higher education overseas.
In recent parliamentary discussions, members of the Indian Lok Sabha have pressed the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue of student safety abroad. Officials responded by outlining that Indian missions routinely maintain contact with enrolled Indian students abroad and undertake orientation and advisory sessions about potential risks and precautions.
These remarks came in response to a question about broader concerns for Indians studying overseas, though they were not made specifically in relation to Sreenivasaiah’s case.
For many families back home, particularly in states like Karnataka that send thousands of students abroad annually, the incident has raised poignant questions about how universities, local communities and diplomatic missions can better safeguard students when they are far from home.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At its heart, this story is not just about a missing student it is about the hopes and vulnerabilities of young people who leave familiar surroundings in pursuit of knowledge and opportunity. Sreenivasaiah’s family, peers and the Indian diaspora in the Bay Area are understandably anxious, leaning on community support, diplomatic channels and local law enforcement in the hope of finding him safe.
This moment calls for empathy, collective care and transparent action from all involved institutions.
The urgency with which the consulate and police are working reflects the seriousness of the situation, but it also underscores a larger truth: the well-being of students abroad depends on robust safety nets and responsive networks that can act swiftly when ordinary routines are disrupted.
