Indian Student Missing in California; Search Operation Enters Fifth Day
A large-scale search operation is underway in the United States after a 22-year-old Indian student from Karnataka went missing in California, with authorities intensifying efforts as the case entered its fifth day on Saturday.
Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a postgraduate student of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at University of California, Berkeley, was last seen on February 9, approximately one kilometre from the campus in Berkeley, officials said.
According to reports, his backpack — containing his passport and laptop — was later discovered near a residence close to Tilden Regional Park. Authorities subsequently launched a citywide search, focusing on Lake Anza and surrounding areas in the Berkeley Hills.
The Indian Consulate in San Francisco expressed concern over the disappearance and confirmed that it is in constant contact with local authorities and the student’s family.
Originally from Karnataka, Sreenivasaiah is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Madras and completed his schooling at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru. He is described as approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes.
Beyond academics, Sreenivasaiah has demonstrated notable innovation. According to his profile on LinkedIn, he is among six co-inventors holding a patent for a “microchannel cooling system for hyperloop and a method thereof.” Peers have described him as intellectually sharp, humble, and highly solution-oriented in research environments.
Meanwhile, community members and volunteers have mobilised online, including discussion forums on Reddit, where users reported coordinated search efforts. Some volunteers joined search teams near Lake Anza with boats, while others offered assistance using trained search dogs.
The incident has also drawn attention in India’s Parliament. During a discussion in the Lok Sabha, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns about the safety of Indian students abroad. Responding to such concerns, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Indian missions maintain regular contact with students overseas, conduct orientation sessions, and issue advisories to help them navigate risks while studying in foreign countries.
Authorities in California continue to pursue all leads, and the investigation remains active as family members, officials, and volunteers hope for a breakthrough in the coming days.
