Bengaluru techie goes missing on Shivagange trek, drones deployed to trace him

A 31-year-old software engineer named Advait Upadhyay has gone missing after venturing on a solo trek to Shivagange Hill in the Bengaluru Rural district on Friday. Police, rescue teams, and high-resolution drones have been mobilized to locate him amidst the rugged landscape. Upadhyay, originally from Indore, is employed at a finance firm in Whitefield and resides in Kadugodi.

He notified his fiancée, Prapti Chauhan, about his trek plans before setting off on a rented motorcycle. CCTV footage from the foothills verified his start of the ascent around 7:30 am. Prapti, apprehensive as she had not heard from him after reaching the site or completing the climb by evening, filed a missing person report with the Kadugodi police.

Upadhyay, an IIT graduate with a master's degree in cybersecurity, had planned to return by 4 pm. Upon receiving the complaint, police in Nelamangala and Dobbaspet initiated search operations, starting with Shantala Drop, a steep and perilous cliff near the summit. His motorcycle was discovered parked at the base, indicating he had not departed from the vicinity.

However, his mobile phone's last signal did not align with the designated trekking trail. On Sunday, authorities deployed high-resolution drones to scan the challenging areas. A 15-member team from the Karnataka State Disaster Response Force joined the search, delineating areas of priority near steep drops and precarious rock formations.

Shivagange, situated approximately 50 km from Bengaluru, is a favored weekend retreat for trekkers and hikers. Rising to an elevation of 4,488 feet, the hill presents a moderately challenging ascent with narrow steps and exposed routes. Upadhyay, who is set to marry in January, is a family man with his relatives present at the location as extensive search efforts persist.

Earlier this year, G S Sharanya, a 36-year-old software professional from Kerala, went missing during a solo trek to Tadiandamol Peak in Kodagu district on April 2. She endured three days in the dense forest, surviving on stream water before being rescued near an abandoned forest temple on April 5.