Search Enters Fifth Day: UC Berkeley Community Reels as Indian Student Goes Missing

The Indian student community in the United States is on edge following the disappearance of Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a brilliant postgraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. As of Saturday, February 14, 2026, the search has expanded into the rugged terrain of the Berkeley Hills after a critical piece of evidence was recovered by local residents.

Saketh, who hails from Karnataka, was reported missing by his roommate after he failed to return to their apartment earlier this week. The Berkeley Police Department (BPD) and East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) are now leading a multi-agency effort to locate him.

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Timeline: The Disappearance of Saketh Sreenivasaiah

The sequence of events leading to the current search operation is as follows:

• Monday, Feb 9: Saketh was last seen near Lake Anza, a popular swimming and hiking spot in the Berkeley Hills.

• Tuesday, Feb 10: Separate police reports place him in the 1700 block of Dwight Way, roughly a kilometer from the main UC Berkeley campus.

• Wednesday, Feb 11: Friends and roommates began a digital campaign on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) after failing to reach him via phone.

• Saturday, Feb 14: The Indian Consulate in San Francisco officially confirmed its involvement, stating they are in “constant touch” with Saketh’s family in India.

Evidence Found: The Backpack Mystery at Tilden Park

A chilling discovery has shifted the focus of the investigation to the Park Hills neighborhood. A resident found a backpack left on their doorstep and alerted the authorities.

• Contents: The bag contained Saketh’s Indian passport, his laptop, and personal belongings.

• Location: The doorstep is located directly adjacent to the entrance of Tilden Regional Park, a 2,000-acre wilderness area.

• The Question: Investigators are trying to determine why a student would leave behind such high-value items—essential for both legal status and academic work—on a stranger’s porch.

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Who is Saketh Sreenivasaiah? Background and Profile

Saketh is widely recognized as a high achiever with a stellar academic record.

• Education: He is a 2025 BTech graduate from IIT Madras, where he specialized in Chemical Engineering.

• Current Status: He is currently enrolled in the MS PDP ’26 program (Master’s in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) at UC Berkeley.

• Personal: Described by friends as a focused individual, his sudden lack of communication has been termed “completely out of character” by his roommate, Baneet Singh.

Investigative Angle: Why “At-Risk”?

The Berkeley Police have officially classified Saketh as “at-risk.” While they have not disclosed specific medical or personal details, this classification typically implies:

1. Environmental Danger: His proximity to the dense, hilly terrain of Tilden Park.

2. Personal Vulnerability: A potential medical condition or sudden mental health crisis.

3. Suspicious Circumstances: The abandonment of his passport and laptop suggests he may have been in a state of distress or was forced to leave his belongings.

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Next Steps

If you are in the Berkeley or San Francisco area, you should check your doorbell camera footage from the morning of February 10, specifically in the Dwight Way or Park Hills areas. Furthermore, if you are a member of the IIT-M or UC Berkeley alumni networks, you should share the official missing person flyer released by the San Francisco Consulate to maximize visibility within the local Indian diaspora.

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