Missing UC Berkeley student found dead in Lake Anza

The Indian embassy in San Francisco has confirmed that the body found Saturday was missing UC Berkeley student Saketh Sreenivasaiah.

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.

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.

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,” wrote Baneet Singh. “The police shared this with me so far, and 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.

Singh said, at the time, he hadn’t thought much of it.

“he was always up to something silly,” Singh wrote. “now i know that he really meant it.”

Singh 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,” Singh 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.