In a heartbreaking turn of events, the body of 22-year-old Indian postgraduate student Saketh Sreenivasaiah was recovered from Lake Anza in California on Saturday local time, just days after he went missing in the United States. The University of California, Berkeley student, originally from Karnataka, India, left his family in profound denial back home in Bengaluru, where his parents insist they will only accept his death upon seeing his body themselves.
Saketh's parents, grappling with unimaginable grief, have refused to speak with the media and even turned away some government officials. They expressed their unwavering hope during a meeting at their Bengaluru residence on Sunday with MLC Arathi Krishna, the deputy chairman of the NRI Forum of Karnataka. The family believes it could be a case of mistaken identity and described Saketh as an extremely strong-willed person.
“We will only accept that he is dead if she (Saketh’s mother) sees his dead body. Till then, we believe he is alive,” Saketh’s father, Srinivasaiah Thammannagowda, told MLC Krishna, as reported by the Indian Express. Rather than requesting the repatriation of their son’s remains to India, the family has made it clear they want to travel to the US themselves to verify the tragic news.
MLC Krishna echoed the family's anguish, stating, "The family is in disbelief. They say their son was an extremely strong-willed person. They are not asking to bring the body to India but want to go to the US themselves." Her visit underscored the raw emotion and skepticism permeating the household amid the shocking confirmation from abroad.
The Indian Consulate in San Francisco officially confirmed the recovery of Saketh's body, issuing a somber statement: "The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police have confirmed the recovery of the body of the missing Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah." The consulate extended its condolences to his loved ones and affirmed its support.
In a gesture of solidarity, the consulate pledged comprehensive assistance, including "coordination with local authorities and arrangements for the repatriation of mortal remains to India at the earliest." As the family holds onto their belief in Saketh's survival until they can see for themselves, the incident highlights the devastating impact of such overseas tragedies on families thousands of miles away.
