Bengaluru: A 31-year-old tech professional, Advait Upadhyay, who went missing during a solo trek to Shivagange Hill on August 7, is feared to have died after a drone used in the search operation spotted what appeared to be a human body in dense vegetation below the dangerous Shantala Drop. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether the object is a human body or whether it is Advait.
Advait, an IIT alumnus and cybersecurity professional, works with a finance firm in Whitefield and lives in Kadugodi. He had travelled alone to Shivagange on a rented motorcycle and was expected to return by afternoon.
Techie went missing during solo trek
According to police, CCTV footage shows Advait reaching Shivagange at around 7.30 am on August 7. He subsequently began his trek into the hill.
When he failed to return by afternoon, concerns grew about his whereabouts. His rented motorcycle was later found parked near the foothills, but there was no sign of Advait in the vicinity.
The discovery of the motorcycle without its rider prompted police and rescue agencies to intensify their search across the hill and surrounding areas.
Last mobile signal traced to Kuduru
Investigators examining Advait’s movements traced his last mobile phone signal to Kuduru on Kunigal Road. The location is reportedly away from the usual trekking route at Shivagange.
His mobile phone was subsequently switched off, leaving investigators with limited information about his movements after the signal was recorded.
Search teams have since been examining different parts of Shivagange Hill, including areas that are difficult to access on foot.
Drone spots body-like object
A major development in the search came when drone teams spotted an object resembling a human body in dense vegetation below Shantala Drop.
Shantala Drop is considered a dangerous and steep section of Shivagange, making it difficult for rescue personnel to immediately reach the location identified by the drone.
The sighting has raised fears that Advait may have suffered an accident or fallen from the steep terrain. However, officials have stressed that the identity of the object has not yet been established.
Rescue personnel must reach the location and physically verify the sighting before any conclusion can be drawn.
Nearly 100 personnel involved in search
The search operation has been expanded, with nearly 100 personnel from the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Forest Department involved in the operation.
Multiple drone teams are surveying the hill, while ground personnel are searching Shivagange, Shantala Drop and nearby areas.
The difficult terrain and thick vegetation have made the operation challenging. The exact location identified by the drone is particularly difficult to access, delaying confirmation of what was spotted from the air.
The search teams continue to work towards locating Advait and determining what happened to him after he began his trek.
Police examine digital activity
Alongside the physical search, investigators are examining Advait’s movements and digital activity before his disappearance.
Police are reportedly examining the browsing history on his laptop. The searches are said to include information related to Shivagange, Shantala Drop and locations associated with suicides near Bengaluru.
Police are examining this information as part of the investigation but have not drawn any conclusion from it or established that Advait intended to harm himself.
The digital evidence is being assessed alongside CCTV footage, mobile phone data and other information about his movements before he went missing.
Indore Police offer assistance
The case has also drawn attention in Indore after information circulated on social media that Advait was a resident of the city.
Indore Police said Bengaluru Police had not officially contacted them so far. The Additional DCP said the department would provide all possible assistance if Advait’s family approaches the police.
Indore Police are also contacting the concerned police station and officers in Bengaluru on their own to gather information about the case.
The family has not directly approached Indore Police so far, although officials said assistance would be provided if they establish contact through electronic means or other sources.
Identity of object yet to be confirmed
The discovery made by the drone has intensified concerns about Advait’s safety, but officials are yet to confirm the identity of the object.
Until rescue personnel reach the location and conduct a physical verification, it cannot be established whether the object is a person or whether it is Advait.
Police and rescue teams are therefore continuing their search without drawing conclusions about the circumstances of his disappearance.
The investigation is examining all available possibilities, including Advait’s movements after reaching Shivagange and the reasons behind his presence in areas away from the regular trekking route.
Search operation continues
Advait’s disappearance has triggered a large-scale search operation involving multiple government agencies. The discovery of a body-like object has provided investigators with a possible lead, but confirmation remains pending.
The immediate priority for the rescue teams is to reach the difficult location identified by the drone and establish the identity of the object.
Meanwhile, police continue to analyse CCTV footage, mobile phone data and digital information to reconstruct Advait’s movements from the time he reached Shivagange until his disappearance.
Until the search teams physically verify the drone sighting, authorities have not confirmed that Advait is dead. The search and investigation therefore remain ongoing.
