Bengaluru: A 31-year-old IT professional and IIT alumnus has been missing since Friday, August 7, after he set out on a solo trek to Shivagange Hill. Search teams have been working across the hill after locating his rented motorcycle near the foothills.
Advait Upadhyay, who has a master’s degree in cybersecurity, had travelled from Bengaluru to Shivagange on Friday morning. He had been working in the city for several years and was reportedly scheduled to get married in January.
CCTV captures trekker’s arrival
Advait had rented a motorcycle from Whitefield around five days before his disappearance. CCTV footage from the foothills reportedly captured him arriving on the motorcycle and beginning his trek at around 7.30 am.
Before leaving, Advait had also informed his fiancée, Prapti Chauhan, about his plan to trek up the hill.
However, investigators have not found CCTV footage showing him returning from Shivagange. His mobile phone was reportedly switched off shortly after he began the trek.
Prapti later approached the Kadugodi police station and filed a missing person complaint on Friday evening, prompting police teams to begin efforts to trace him.
According to media reports, the last known location of Advait’s mobile phone was traced to an area that does not appear to fall along the usual trekking route. This has made it difficult for investigators to determine which path he may have taken after reaching the hill.
Search teams comb difficult terrain
Shivagange, located around 50 km from Bengaluru, rises to approximately 4,488 feet above sea level and is a popular destination for trekkers and visitors.
Although the hill attracts large numbers of visitors, several portions of the trekking route can be challenging. The terrain includes steep stretches, narrow rock-cut steps, cliffs and areas covered by dense vegetation.
Following the missing person complaint, police teams from Dobbaspet and Nelamangala were alerted and launched search operations in the area.
Personnel have been checking rocky sections and forested stretches of the hill. Special attention has reportedly been given to hazardous locations, including Shantala Drop, a steep cliff section near the top of Shivagange.
The difficult terrain has increased the challenges faced by the search teams, particularly while examining areas that are difficult to access safely on foot.
Heavy rain hampers rescue operation
Weather conditions have further complicated the search. Heavy rainfall in the region affected the operation, with teams having to suspend search efforts on Saturday.
Operations continued on Sunday, but rain and slippery terrain reportedly made it difficult for personnel to cover the hill thoroughly.
The combination of steep rock faces, dense vegetation and wet conditions has required search teams to proceed carefully while examining possible locations.
Drones and specialised equipment deployed
Authorities have now expanded the search operation by bringing in specialised equipment and additional personnel.
High-resolution drones are being used to scan stretches of the hill that are difficult for rescuers to reach on foot. Specialised metal detectors sourced from the Bengaluru police commissionerate have also been deployed as part of the search.
A 15-member State Disaster Response Force team has joined the operation, adding specialised rescue capabilities to the efforts already being carried out by police personnel.
Search teams have divided the hill into key zones and are examining areas around steep drops, rock faces and other potentially hazardous stretches.
The use of drones is expected to help teams survey inaccessible portions of the terrain from above and identify areas that may require closer physical inspection.
Family continues to wait for answers
Advait’s family members have remained at the site as police and rescue personnel continue their efforts to locate him.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear. Investigators are examining his last known movements, the available CCTV footage, mobile phone location information and the route he may have taken after reaching Shivagange.
The discovery of his motorcycle at the foothills has established that he reached the trekking location, but the absence of footage showing his return and the reported mobile phone location away from the regular route have left several questions unanswered.
Search operations are continuing across the hill, with police and rescue personnel focusing on difficult-to-access areas and other locations considered significant to the investigation.
As the operation continues, authorities are expected to examine every available lead to establish Advait’s movements and trace his whereabouts.