Published Aug 10, 2026 | 7:41 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 10, 2026 | 7:41 PM
Advaith Upadhyaya went missing during a solo trek at Shivagange Hill.
Synopsis: The Karnataka SDRF has joined the search for 31-year-old Bengaluru-based software professional Advaith Upadhyaya, who went missing during a solo trek at Shivagange Hill near Dobbspet on Friday. A 60-member team is searching the hill and surrounding areas using drones and specialised equipment, but continuous rain has hampered the operation. His shoulder bag and sweater were found in a restricted area on the hill.
The Karnataka State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has joined the search operation for 31-year-old Bengaluru-based software professional Advaith Upadhyaya, who went missing during a solo trek at Shivagange Hill near Dobbspet in Nelamangala taluk on Friday, 8 August.
Upadhyaya, a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, works for a private company in Bengaluru and lives in Mythri Layout in East Bengaluru. He had reportedly got engaged a few months ago.
A 60-member team comprising Bengaluru Rural police, SDRF personnel and Kadugodi police is searching Shivagange Hill and the surrounding areas. High-resolution drones and specialised equipment are being used to scan the difficult terrain. However, continuous rain has hampered the search and made it difficult for investigators to establish Upadhyaya’s final movements.
Dobbspet Police Inspector Dharmendra told South First that the search operation on Monday did not yield any fresh leads due to the continuous rain. The operation will resume on Tuesday morning.
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Upadhyaya left early Friday morning on a rented motorcycle and travelled alone to Shivagange for trekking, police said.
CCTV footage shows him parking his vehicle, beginning the climb and later reaching the hilltop. However, there is no footage showing him descending from the hill.
His last known mobile location was traced near the Kudur Road deviation close to Dobbspet. On Sunday, Upadhyaya’s shoulder bag and sweater were found at Shanthala Point, a restricted area on the hill. Investigators are looking into whether he entered the area and could have met with an accident there, given the steep, rocky terrain and persistent rain.
Upadhyaya made a video call to his fiancée at around 8.30 am on Friday from Valkala Theertha, a point on the route to the hilltop, police said. He also shared photographs from the location. His mobile phone became unreachable around 1 pm.
His family began making repeated calls to him from around 5 pm, but there was no response. After several attempts to contact him failed, his fiancée approached Kadugodi Police Station and lodged a missing-person complaint.
The family has raised concerns about the difference between the location where his belongings were found and his last known mobile location, and has suspected possible foul play.
Police said multiple possibilities are being considered.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
