In a troubling development, a 22-year-old Indian postgraduate student from the University of California, Berkeley, has gone missing, prompting an intensive search operation by local authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Saket Srinivasaiah, hailing from Karnataka, was last seen on Tuesday near Lake Anza, and his family back home is gripped by anxiety as the Indian Consulate in San Francisco expresses deep concern.
The Consulate General took to social media platform X on Friday, highlighting their distress over the disappearance. ‘We are in constant touch with the family and relevant local authorities to locate the student,’ the post stated, underscoring the diplomatic mission’s active involvement.
Berkeley Police Department revealed that Srinivasaiah’s backpack, containing his passport and laptop, was discovered near Tilden Regional Park in the Park Hills neighborhood. Authorities noted he appeared distressed over a personal relationship issue. The search efforts are now coordinated with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), with police urging community members to come forward with any information.
Described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing about 160 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes, Srinivasaiah was last spotted in the 1700 block of Dwight Way near McGee Avenue. A chemical and biomolecular engineering master’s student at UC Berkeley, he previously graduated from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
This incident adds to a series of worrying cases involving Indian students vanishing in the US. The consulate remains committed to supporting the family and ensuring every lead is pursued. Anyone with details is urged to contact Berkeley Police immediately. As the search intensifies, hopes remain high for a safe resolution.