'Searched for suicide spots': Mystery deepens over Bengaluru techie missing ahead of wedding

BENGALURU: Search operations for 31-year-old cyber security professional Advait Upadhyay have begun anew on Wednesday, with around 100 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Forest Department, and police combing the rugged terrain of Shivagange Hill in Nelamangala taluk. A breakthrough was made when high-resolution drones captured images of what seemed to be a body entangled in thick vegetation at the base of Shantala Drop, a notoriously steep and hazardous cliff on the hill.

The police dispatched specialized body-found metal detectors along with drones to assist the teams in navigating the treacherous landscape. Advait, an IIT graduate living in Kadugodi with his fiancée Prapti Chauhan, disappeared after embarking on a solo trek. He had informed Chauhan about his trekking itinerary prior to his departure. The couple was scheduled to tie the knot in January.

CCTV footage from the base of the hill revealed Advait parking his rented motorcycle and commencing his ascent around 7:30 am. A selfie was sent to Chauhan from the summit, but his mobile phone went offline shortly after. Post-mortem analysis later revealed that his phone's last known location pinged near Kudur on Kunigal Road, a spot distant from the typical trekking route.

Police probed a suicide hypothesis as part of the concurrent investigation into Advait's disappearance at his residence. They discovered search histories on his laptop related to the depth and topography of Shivagange Hill and Shantala Drop. He had also scoured the internet for suicide locations in Bengaluru. Police maintain an open-minded approach and are also exploring the possibility of foul play or other explanations, according to police sources speaking to TOI.

The persistent rain and slippery cliffs have posed significant challenges to the search operation. Resolute teams are persistently pushing towards the location pinpointed by the drone at the base of Shantala Drop. The search and rescue efforts are ongoing as multiple agencies collaborate to locate Advait.