Search continues for missing Bengaluru techie at Shivaganga hills amid digital leads

Advait Upadhyay was reported missing from Shivagange Hill, which is located about 50 kilometre northwest of Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 12: The issue of 31-year-old techie, who went missing from Shivaganga hills in Tumkur district is becoming murkier day by day, with the police trying to answer a number of unanswered questions, after failing to locate him or his body in the hill range vicinity.The sweater and shoulder bag of Advaith Upadhyay from Madhya Pradesh, who is working in a software company in Bengaluru were found near Shanthala drop, which is a prohibited area, but the police and forest department search team could not locate any bodies around.The initial presumption was that Advaith has either slipped down from Shanthala drop or committed suicide by jumping from the same place. For the last four days, the search team have used drones to check any human body around the fall place. On Wednesday, the police sought the help of Jyothi Raj, who is popularly known as spider man for his rock-climbing abilities, who, along with four friends went down the cliff using 700-meter long ropes.to check if any human body was struck between the rocks. Even as they landed in the steep terrain and searched around, nothing could be found.Meanwhile, the police were digging into the history of Advaith and found out that he had got engaged to Prachi Chouhan recently. Advaith was working with cyber security wing and was well versed with hacking.A week before he went for the trek, Advaith had made a detailed study of the Shivaganga hills and checked for various exit points from the hill with the help of AI tools. Two days before Friday, he had come to Shivaganga hills with his girlfriend, who is not his fiancée and returned to his house in Kadugodi.On Friday, he went alone to Shivaganga on a rented motorcycle, parked it in the base and reached the hilltop by 8.30 am. He also made a video call to his fiancée from Valkala Theertha point and sent her some photos also. The connection got disconnected at that point.Techie Missing On Shivagange Trek Feared Dead After Drone Spots Suspected Body, Had Searched 'Suicide Locations Around Bengaluru' According to Prachi, Advaith had carried his phone and his drone also. When she started calling him again in the afternoon, the phone was ringing but got disconnected. The police parallel investigation has revealed more than just his engagement to fiancée and trek to Shivagange. According to police, Advaith was in touch with other girls and regularly chatting with them. Before going to Shivagange, he had made a detailed study of Shivagange hill range and multiple exit points through forests also. He was also aware that there was only one CCTv camera near Dasoha Bhavan in the bottom of the hill. Advaith had also left behind the drone in his shoulder bag near Shanthala drop.Also Watch:However, the phone has travelled 22-kms from Shanthala drop before getting switched off near Kuduru near Kunigal. The police suspect that someone else must have taken that phone and switched it off once it started ringing.Now, the police are skeptical about death of Advaith and feel that there are personal reasons behind the mysterious dissppearence.

Bengaluru: Amid a search for the 31-year-old tech professional, who went missing during a solo trek to Shivagange Hill in Bengaluru Rural, a drone spotted what appears to be a human body. The sighting has raised fears that Advait may have met with an accident or suffered a fatal fall.The missing youth has been identified as Advait Upadhyay, an IIT alumnus and cybersecurity professional, who works with a finance firm in Whitefield and lives in Kadugodi and hails from Madhya Pradesh.CCTV footage shows Advait reaching Shivagange at around 7:30 am on August 7 and starting his trek, according to police. He was expected to return by afternoon but did not return.Techie missing after Shivagange trek?Search is on to find a techie & IIT alumini Advait Upadhyay who claimed he's going on a trek to Shivagange hills on Aug 7th & hasn't returned since. Drones & on ground teams searching the area for clues. He hails from Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/oS5OJpoMaF— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) August 10, 2026 Meanwhile, authorities are examining Advait's movements and digital activity before he went missing. Police are also examining the browsing history on his laptop, which reportedly contains searches related to Shivagange, Shantala Drop and locations linked with suicides near Bengaluru, according to a Times of India report.Last mobile signal tracedHis last mobile signal was traced to Kuduru on Kunigal Road, which is reportedly far from the usual Shivagange trekking route. His mobile phone was subsequently off.Drone spots suspected bodyAs search operations intensified, drone teams spotted an object resembling a human body in dense vegetation below the dangerous Shantala Drop, a steep and difficult-to-access portion of the hill.However, authorities have not confirmed whether the object is a human body or whether it is Advait.Bengaluru Techie Missing From Shivaganga Hills; Police Search Underway With DronesRescue teams face difficult terrainRescue teams are yet to reach the exact location because of the difficult terrain and dense vegetation. Around 100 personnel from the police, NDRF, SDRF and Forest Department are involved in the search operation. Multiple drone teams and ground personnel are combing Shivagange Hill, Shantala Drop and surrounding areas to locate Advait.

Indore / Bengaluru (Madhya Pradesh): New digital evidence and details regarding his personal life have added fresh twists to the investigation surrounding missing Indore-based software professional Advait Upadhyaya.Investigators found that Upadhyaya’s laptop, recovered from his home, showed searches made using an artificial intelligence tool. He looked up the height of Shivagange Hill, ways to reach the dangerous Shantala Drop, and asked how long someone could survive a fall from the cliff. These findings have raised concerns that Upadhyaya may have planned to end his life, but police have not made any final conclusions.Police also found his mobile phone and drone at the Shantala Drop area, but Upadhyaya is still missing. The phone was active for a short time before it switched off, so investigators think someone else may have picked it up and are checking if anyone else was with him. They are also looking into Upadhyaya’s cyber-security background and digital devices to see if hacking or similar activities were involved.CDR revealed complicated personal lifeCall detail records (CDR) have also shown that Upadhyaya had a complicated personal life. He was messaging several young women and reportedly had a girlfriend even though he was engaged to someone else. Police are looking into whether his hesitation about the upcoming marriage played a part in his disappearance.Ongoing search and multi-agency investigationA joint operation with local police from Kadugodi and Nelamangala, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and fire and emergency teams is still searching the rough terrain of Shivagange Hill. High-resolution drones are scanning hard-to-reach parts of the cliff. Teams are also checking CCTV footage from the area to trace his route before and after he reached the village. Authorities say they are still considering all possibilities, including suicide, an accidental fall, or foul play.BackgroundAdvait Upadhyaya, a skilled techie originally from Indore, went missing on Aug 7 after embarking on what was believed to be a solo trek. Digital records suggest he may have visited the hill as early as Aug 4 before his reported trip on Aug 7. On the morning of Aug 7, Upadhyaya began his ascent, sending a photograph from the hilltop to his fiancée. After he stopped responding to subsequent calls, his fiancée lodged a missing person complaint, initiating the ongoing multi-agency search effort.Indore police offer help to trace AdvaitIndore police offered full assistance to Karnataka authorities to locate Advait Upadhyay.Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya said that Indore police reached out after learning about the incident on social media. While Upadhyay’s family has not yet approached the local police, MP officials stand ready to provide immediate support to Karnataka investigators whenever required."We received information from social media that Advait Upadhyay, originally from Indore, had gone missing while trekking in Shivagange near Bengaluru. We have contacted the Karnataka police in this matter and offered necessary assistance in the investigation," Dandotiya told the media.Armed Men Rob Youths After Attacking Them On Indore-Dewas Bypass

Indore / Bengaluru (Madhya Pradesh): A major search operation is underway in the Bengaluru Rural district following the disappearance of a 32-year-old techie from Indore. Karnataka Police suspect that Advait Upadhyaya, who went missing during a Friday trek at the historic Shivagange Hill, may have planned to end his life after investigators uncovered alarming search histories on his personal laptop.CCTV, AI Searches, and the Hilltop MysteryUpadhyaya, a native of Indore residing in Bengaluru’s Kadugodi area, rode a rented scooter to Shivagange Hill early Friday morning. CCTV footage captured him parking the vehicle, ascending the hill, and reaching the summit. However, investigators found no footage of him returning down the slope.Local police recovered and accessed Upadhyaya’s laptop during the probe, uncovering a series of unsettling online queries. Investigators revealed that Upadhyaya had used an AI tool to research the physical impact of a fall from Shivagange Hill, including calculations on how long it would take to die from such a drop. The AI-generated response found on his system suggested that a fall at around 7:30 AM could prove fatal.Search and rescue personnel—comprising the Karnataka Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)—are deploying drone cameras and modern equipment to scan inaccessible, deep, and steep crevices. Operations are heavily concentrated around Shantala Drop, a popular yet dangerously steep lookout point atop the hill. Police are continuing to examine both digital and physical evidence, though authorities emphasise that his death has not been officially confirmed while search efforts continue.Backgrounder: Timeline and InvestigationUpadhyaya had got engaged a few months before the incident. On the morning of his disappearance, he sent a photograph of the location to his fiancée shortly after starting his trek before his phone went unreachable.When multiple phone calls went unanswered, his fiancée approached the Kadugodi police station. Kadugodi authorities immediately coordinated with the Dobbspet police station to deploy special search teams. Investigators have also obtained a photograph taken by another tourist showing Upadhyaya at the hilltop around the time he lost contact. Specialised teams are continuing to navigate the challenging terrain and narrow ravines to locate the missing techie.Kin Suspects Kidnapping as His Phone's Last Location Traced 22 km AwaySearch teams recovered missing techie Advaith’s bag and sweater at Shivagange’s restricted Shanthala Point despite rain-hampered operations. While police are investigating an accidental slip or suicide, his family suspects kidnapping because his phone's last location traced 22 kilometres away.Made At IIT Indore, Chip-Design Tool AspireHLS Goes Global, Downloaded In 60+ Countries

Bengaluru, Aug 10: A 31-year-old techie, who was on a trek has gone missing from Shivaganga hills in Tumakuru district, which is around 70-kms from Bengaluru.A 60-member team, including Bengaluru Rural police, SDRF personnel and Kadugodi police have been searching for Advaith Upadhyey, a resident of Kadugodi in Bengaluru city, using high resolution drones and other equipment.Advaith, a software professional from Indore, Madhya Pradesh has been working in Bengaluru for the last four years. He was living in Mythri layout with his fiancee and had gone on a rental motorcycle to Shivaganga hills alone for trekking. When his phone was not reachable since Friday afternoon, his fiancee lodged a complaint with the Kadugodi police.The search team on Sunday found Advaith's shoulder bag and sweater at Shanthala Point, which is a prohibited area for anyone to venture. However, the last location of his mobile phone is 22 kms away from that spot, which has raised many doubts.Supriya Sule-Led NCP (SP) MPs Meet PM Modi Amid Delimitation Bill Buzz; Here's What Was DiscussedThe search team also scanned through the lone CCTv installed near Dasoha Bhavan at the bottom of the hill. It shows Advaith climbing the hill at around 6.454 am on Friday morning, but there is no evidence for his return from the point. However, at around 8.30 am, he had made a video call to his fiancee from Valkala Theertha point, enroute to the hilltop. He had also shared some photos of the location before he lost the signal. The phone was not traceable from 1 pm. His family made multiple calls to him from 5 pm, but his phone was switched off.The team's search operation was hampered due to bad weather in the region, which has been receiving rains for the last one week. However, the first breakthrough was received when they found his sweater and shoulder bag at Shanthala Point. The investigating team is considering multiple possibilities including slipped on the rocky granite structure and fell as it was raining.Also Watch:The second is that he went to visit Eshwara Temple on the hills which is under Muzrai department and ventured into the restricted area including Shanthal point, from where he slipped and fell. The other one is that he might have committed suicide by jumping from the Shanthala point.However, family members insist that he might have been kidnapped as his last phone location was around 20 kms away from the hill top.