Search Continues for Missing Texas Student Last Seen in Alaska 2 Weeks Ago amid Subarctic Temperatures

Officials in Alaska are searching for a doctoral student from Texas who was last seen more than two weeks ago.

Hari Karasani — who grew up in India but lived in Houston, Texas where he was working on a PhD program, according to KTUU — was last in contact with family and friends on December 29, according to a January 8 press release from Alaska State Troopers.

Two days later, he was spotted at the Aurora Denali Lodge in Healy, Alaska. Authorities said that he might have been making the roughly 110-mile trek to Fairbanks. However, he has not been seen since and was reported missing on January 3.

Keep reading to find out more…

Karasani was described as having black hair and eyes, being approximately 5 feet 7 inches and weighing 130 lbs. He wears glasses and was “traveling alone without a vehicle.”

His roommate Surya Teja told KTUU that Karasani “never had any trips” and “never went anywhere,” making his visit to Alaska surprising.

The outlet reported that he told family and friends he’d be back in Texas around January 4 or 5.

KP Sompally, who works with the Telugu Association of North America and has been helping Karasani ‘s family, told the outlet that he traveled to the Aurora Denali Lodge on December 23.

“There’s too much cold over there, and we are very much worried about that,” Sompally said, with the outlet noting that temperatures have reached subarctic levels below -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Just Jared contacted Alaska State Troopers for any updates on the investigation but did not hear back at the time of publication.