A 24-year-old Texas college student has vanished during a solo trip to Alaska, leaving his family in India frantic and search crews battling sub-zero temperatures.
At a Glance
- Hari Karasani disappeared after leaving a Healy lodge on Dec. 31, 2025
- He last spoke with family on Dec. 29 and a friend on Dec. 30
- Temperatures in the area plunged to -40°F during the search period
- Why it matters: A young traveler with no vehicle is missing in extreme Alaskan winter conditions
Karasani, a Trine University student from Houston, flew into Fairbanks on December 22, 2025, telling roommates he would return home around January 4 or 5, according to roommate Surya Teja, who spoke with local outlets and confirmed details to News Of Losangeles.
The Disappearance
Alaska State Troopers issued a bulletin on January 3, 2026, stating Karasani was last seen leaving the Aurora Denali Lodge in Healy on New Year’s Eve. He had no vehicle and was traveling alone.
Key timeline:
- Dec. 22 – Lands in Fairbanks
- Dec. 29 – Last contact with family
- Dec. 30 – Last known phone call to a friend
- Dec. 31 – Seen exiting lodge
- Jan. 3 – Reported missing
The lodge sits roughly 112 miles south of Fairbanks in the shadow of Denali National Park, a region known for rugged terrain and severe winter weather.
A Surprise Trip
Teja told News Of Losangeles that the journey shocked everyone who knows Karasani. “He never went anywhere,” Teja said, noting the student rarely traveled. No one in his circle understood why he chose Alaska in the dead of winter.
KP Sompally, an international coordinator for the Telugu Association of North America who is assisting the search, told News Of Losangeles that Karasani “never revealed why he’s going to Alaska.”
Frantic Search in Brutal Cold
Search teams have scoured the area since the missing-person report was filed, contending with temperatures that hovered between -16°F and -19°F on Wednesday and had previously dropped to -40°F.
Teja said Karasani’s parents, living in India, “are really, really worried” about their son, particularly after learning how cold Alaska can be in early January.
Description and Appeal
Troopers describe Karasani as:
- Asian male
- 5’7″ tall
- 130 lbs
- Black hair, black eyes
- Wears glasses
Anyone with information is urged to contact Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks at 907-451-5100 and reference incident AK26000654.
Key Takeaways
- Hari Karasani has been missing for two weeks after a solo Alaska trip
- He was last seen leaving a Healy lodge on Dec. 31, 2025
- Extreme cold complicates search efforts
- His family in India is pleading for public help
