Update: Missing UC Berkeley student saketh sreenivasaiah found dead in Lake Anza
Authorities recovered the body of a missing UC Berkeley graduate student from Lake Anza on Saturday afternoon, ending a days-long search that involved sonar, drones and underwater teams. The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has confirmed the identity as Saketh Sreenivasaiah. Local officials say the Contra Costa County coroner will now assume custody of the case.
Recovery operation and scene details
Divers working with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office located a body just after 2: 00 p. m. ET on Saturday and prepared to pull it from the water. The search effort earlier in the week had included sonar equipment, aerial drones and multiple dive teams as authorities sought the graduate student who had been reported missing on Feb. 9.
Personal effects belonging to the missing student were recovered near the lake and in the nearby Park Hills neighborhood during the initial stages of the investigation. Access to the lake and the surrounding trail was largely closed to the public during the recovery operation; personnel on scene included regional park staff, local police and sheriff’s deputies coordinating the effort.
Officials have said the Contra Costa County coroner will take custody of the body and oversee any further identification and next steps. Investigators have not released additional details about cause of death while the coroner and law enforcement complete their work.
Roommate’s account and consular assistance
In a public message, Sreenivasaiah’s roommate identified the man found in the lake as Saketh and described the community as being "shocked to the core. " The roommate said he is working with authorities to bring the student’s family from India to the United States on an emergency visa and urged others to check on friends and loved ones, speaking to the pressures faced by international students.
The roommate described a shift in Saketh’s mood in the two weeks before his disappearance, saying he had begun eating less and engaging less with daily life. He recalled a brief exchange in which Saketh told him he had "stopped caring" about what others thought, and later reflected that those comments took on new meaning after the discovery.
The Consulate General of India in San Francisco issued condolences and said consular officers are in contact with the family and are prepared to assist with formalities and arrangements for the repatriation of mortal remains if requested. The consulate emphasized its willingness to coordinate with local authorities to support the family during this difficult time.
What comes next
With the coroner now involved, officials will complete their examinations to determine the cause and manner of death. Investigators have not announced additional public updates, and campus officials have not provided new comment on the case while authorities continue their work.
The recovery has prompted an outpouring of grief among students and community members, and renewed attention to the challenges faced by international students living far from home. Counseling and support services are typically made available on campus after traumatic incidents, and community members are encouraging friends and neighbors to reach out and check on one another.
