A 31-year-old software professional has gone missing after setting out on a solo trek to Shivagange Hill in Bengaluru Rural district, prompting an intensive search operation involving police and multiple rescue agencies, as reported by NDTV.
Advait Upadhyay, a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, works with a finance firm in Whitefield and lives in Kadugodi. Police said he rented a motorcycle on August 7 and travelled to Shivagange after informing his fiancée, Prapti Chauhan, about his plan to trek the hill.
CCTV footage from the foothills showed Upadhyay reaching the location and beginning his ascent at around 7:30 am. He was expected to return by the afternoon. However, he did not return and could not be contacted.
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His fiancée approached the Kadugodi police later that evening and filed a missing person complaint. Police subsequently alerted personnel in Nelamangala and Dobbaspet, following which a search operation was launched.
Upadhyay's motorcycle was found parked at the foothills. Police said this suggested that he had not left the area on the vehicle.
Investigators are also checking the last known location of his mobile phone. According to police, the phone was switched off after its last signal was recorded near Kuduru on Kunigal Road. The location does not correspond with the usual trekking route.
One of the key areas being searched is Shantala Drop, considered one of the most dangerous sections of Shivagange because of its steep cliffs and rocky terrain.
During drone-assisted searches, personnel reportedly spotted an object resembling a human body amid dense vegetation below the Shantala Drop. However, the area is difficult to access, and teams are yet to determine whether the object is connected to the missing techie.
Nearly 100 personnel from the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and forest department are involved in the search
High-resolution drones are being used to scan areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach on foot, while ground teams are searching rocky outcrops, bushes, drops and areas away from the established trekking trail.
Investigators are also examining information recovered from Upadhyay's laptop at his residence. Police sources said his browsing history included searches related to Shivagange Hill, its terrain and the Shantala Drop. Investigators are also looking into a search related to suicide locations near Bengaluru.
While these findings have raised questions, police have not drawn any conclusions and are examining all possible angles in connection with his disappearance.
A close friend has also suggested irrational behaviour in the last few days. However, cops are saying they are probing all angles, as reported by NDTV.
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Upadhyay is an IIT alumnus with a master's degree in cybersecurity and is the son of an Indore-based businessman. He was engaged to be married in January.
Continuous rain has added to the challenges faced by rescue teams as they carefully comb the hill for clues that could help establish Upadhyay's whereabouts.
The search remains underway, with authorities yet to determine whether Upadhyay is stranded somewhere on the hill, suffered an accident in an inaccessible area or left the trekking route for another reason.
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