Community
Emilie Raguso
The Indian embassy in San Francisco has confirmed that the body found Saturday was missing UC Berkeley student Saketh Sreenivasaiah.
A volunteer dive team, with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, at Lake Anza on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Emilie Raguso/The Berkeley Scanner
After a days-long search involving sonar, drones and divers, authorities recovered a body from Lake Anza on Saturday afternoon.
Divers working with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office located the body just after 2 p.m. and prepared to pull it from the water.
Scroll down for an update to the story.
The Contra Costa County coroner’s office will now take over the case.
A dive team at Lake Anza on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Emilie Raguso/The Berkeley Scanner
Authorities began working to locate the body earlier this week after a UC Berkeley graduate student went missing.
Saketh Sreenivasaiah’s personal effects were found close to the lake and in the Park Hills neighborhood nearby.
Authorities had not definitively identified the body as of publication time.
A volunteer dive team, with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, at Lake Anza on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Emilie Raguso/TBS
Access to the lake and surrounding trail were largely closed to the public during Saturday’s operation, which involved the East Bay Regional Park District, Berkeley police and the sheriff’s office.
Update, 6 p.m. Writing Saturday afternoon on LinkedIn, Sreenivasaiah’s roommate identified the man found dead in Lake Anza as his roommate, Saketh.
“the entire community has been shocked to the core,” he wrote. “Im currently working with authorities to fly his family to America from India on an emergency visa.”
He said Sreenivasaiah’s mood had shifted just two weeks earlier when he “started eating less and engaging less,” saying he had simply “stopped caring” about life.
He said, at the time, he hadn’t thought much of it.
“he was always up to something silly,” he wrote. “now i know that he really meant it.”
He urged readers of the public post to connect with friends and family, “instead of sitting in sorrow.”
“please reach out to your loved ones and make sure they’re okay. I didn’t expect this from a friend who lived, ate, travelled, laughed and joked with me. it hurts,” he wrote. “life as an international student is tough, man.”
Writing on X shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday, the Consulate General of India in San Francisco also confirmed the identity of the body found in the lake.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones during this profoundly difficult time,” the embassy wrote. “The Consulate stands ready to provide all necessary assistance to the family, including coordination with local authorities and arrangements for the repatriation of mortal remains to India at the earliest. Our consular officers are in direct contact with the family and will support them with all required formalities and services.”
Stay tuned for additional details.
🚨
The Berkeley Scanner was the first to report this news. Share tips with TBS to help us provide the most timely, comprehensive coverage for you and your neighbors.
Sign up for The Berkeley Scanner
Authoritative crime + safety news
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
