Bengaluru: Techie Advaith Upadhyaya remains untraced three days after he went missing during a trekking visit to Shivagange Hills, with police and disaster response teams intensifying the search operation across the hill, foothills and difficult terrain.
Around 50 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with police personnel, are involved in the search. Four drones are also being deployed to scan areas where ground teams may face difficulty in accessing the terrain.
Dabaspet police are assisting the operation, which is being conducted under the supervision of Nelamangala DySP Umarani. Despite searches over the past three days, no trace of Upadhyaya has been found so far.
According to the information available, Upadhyaya was living with his mother at an apartment in Kadugodi. He had been planning to move to Indore shortly and settle there and had reportedly made preparations for the move. However, he went missing after visiting Shivagange Hills for trekking and did not return, following which a complaint was registered.
Police have since been conducting an intensive operation to trace him. More than 50 personnel have been searching areas around Shivagange Hills daily over the past three days. Two drones had been used during the previous two days, while the search was expanded to four drones on the third day.
An NDRF team has also reached Shivagange Hills and joined the operation. Search personnel are examining the foothills as well as difficult and inaccessible stretches of the hill in an effort to locate the missing techie.
Police have also collected information about Upadhyaya’s background and movements before his disappearance. Investigators are examining available CCTV footage as part of the effort to reconstruct his movements at Shivagange Hills.
According to the available information, one CCTV recording shows Upadhyaya lying down at a location and listening to a song. Police have obtained this footage, but his movements after leaving that location remain unclear.
Teams have already carried out a round of searches around the hill and are again examining the foothills and difficult terrain. Drone-based searches are continuing alongside the ground operation.
Investigators are also conducting a technical examination of Upadhyaya’s phone contacts and communication history. Police are looking into whom he last called and the people with whom he had been in contact before his disappearance.
The circumstances under which Upadhyaya went missing after arriving at Shivagange Hills for trekking remain unclear. Police and rescue teams are continuing the search and investigation to establish his movements and locate him.
About the Author
