Indian Consulate Confirms Death of Missing Karnataka Student
Indian Consulate Confirms Death of Missing Karnataka Student in California
A 22-year-old Indian student from Karnataka, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, who had been missing in the United States since February 9, was found dead at Lake Anza in California on Saturday. He was pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley when he went missing, prompting concern among students and authorities.
Authorities Treat Death as Suicide
Officials informed his roommate, Baneet Singh, that the case is being treated as a suicide. The development has deeply affected the campus community, with Singh stating in a LinkedIn post that the incident left many “shocked to the core.” He noted there were no clear warning signs until the final two weeks before Sreenivasaiah’s disappearance.
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Roommate Recalls Behavioural Changes
Singh wrote that the student had begun withdrawing both socially and physically. He said Sreenivasaiah had started eating less and was mostly surviving on chips and cookies during that period. Singh also mentioned that weeks earlier, Sreenivasaiah had invited him to visit Lake Anza, an invitation he declined, only later realising its significance.
Recalling their last interaction, Singh wrote that Sreenivasaiah returned from class wearing a red bathrobe. When asked about it, he replied that he had “stopped caring” and no longer cared about what others thought of him. Singh said he initially assumed the remark was casual but later understood its seriousness.
Consulate Assists Family, Probe Continues
The Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed recovery of the body and stated that it is assisting the family with emergency travel arrangements and the repatriation of the mortal remains to India. Authorities have not released further details as the investigation remains ongoing.
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