BENGALURU: Three days after he was reported missing in Berkeley, California, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco confirmed the death of 22-year-old Saketh Sreenivasaiah through a post on X. However, as of late Sunday, his family in Karnataka said they were still waiting for formal communication from authorities.
In a post shared at 5.12am on February 15, the Consulate stated: “The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police confirmed the recovery of the body of Saketh.”
Saketh was pursuing a postgraduate degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. According to reports, he was last seen earlier this week in the 1700 block of Dwight Way in Berkeley before being reported missing.
Expressing condolences, the Consulate said it stood ready to extend all necessary assistance to the bereaved family. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time. The Consulate stands prepared to coordinate with local authorities and facilitate arrangements for the repatriation of mortal remains to India at the earliest. Our officers are in direct contact with the family and will assist with all required formalities,” the statement added.
When contacted around 7pm on Sunday, Saketh’s father, Sreenivasaiah, said he had not yet received any official communication from the Ministry of External Affairs, the US Embassy, or the Karnataka government confirming his son’s death. “Without asking us to confirm, how can we believe the post on X?” he said.
He added that the last communication he received was on February 14, when the Consulate General of India in San Francisco sent him a WhatsApp message stating that efforts were underway to trace his son. “That too was not an official communication,” he said, declining to comment further on possible procedural delays and noting that he understood certain formalities might take time.
A day before confirming the death, the Consulate had posted on X expressing concern over Saketh’s disappearance and stating that it was in touch with the family.
