Advaith Upadhyey Missing: Software Professional Disappears During Shivagange Hills Trek, Search Underway

Advaith Upadhyey, a 31-year-old software professional from Bengaluru, has been missing for two days after visiting Karnataka’s Shivagange Hills, prompting the forest department, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to launch a search operation. His shoulder bag and sweater were found near Shanatala Point, a prohibited and sensitive location on the hill, on Sunday evening with the help of drone cameras.

Upadhyey, who lives in Mythri Layout in Bengaluru and originally hails from Indore, had reached the base of Shivagange Hills at around 6.45 am on Friday, according to preliminary information with police and forest officials. CCTV footage confirmed his arrival, but investigators have not found footage showing him leaving the area on Friday or Saturday. Pragya Singh Missing Case: Woman Who Vanished Mysteriously From Nanda Devi Express After Kedarnath Pilgrimage Found Safe in Bihar’s Begusarai After 6 Days.

Advaith Upadhyey Missing: Last Known Location

According to an investigating forest department official, Upadhyey made a video call to his fiancée from Valkala Teertha point at around 8.30 am on Friday.

“Investigation showed that he had made a video call to his fiancée from Valkala teertha point, a location where there is a signal, en route the hill top at around 8.30 am. He had also shared a photo of the location. His phone was not traceable since 1 pm, and from 5 pm his phone was reported to have been switched off,” said an investigating official from the forest department. Kerala Techie GS Sharanya Missing for 4 Days in Karnataka’s Tadiandamol Hills, Drones Deployed for Search.

His fiancée subsequently filed a missing complaint at Kadugodi police station on Friday evening. A search operation at Shivagange Hills began on Saturday morning. His parked motorcycle at the site also confirmed that he had travelled to the hills.

Bag and Sweater Found at Shanatala Point

Search teams initially examined multiple locations across Shivagange Hills but found no immediate trace of Upadhyey.

On Sunday evening, drone cameras helped teams locate his shoulder bag and sweater at Shanatala Point. The location has been identified as a sensitive area where visitors are prohibited from entering. Following the discovery, search teams were moved to surrounding areas to look for further clues or signs of Upadhyey.

Multiple Possibilities Under Investigation

Police and forest officials are examining several possibilities as the search continues. One possibility is that Upadhyey may have slipped and fallen while trekking across the rocky granite terrain. Officials are also considering the fact that it had rained in the area on Friday.

Another possibility being examined is whether he visited the Eshwara Temple at Shivagange Hills, which is under the Muzrai Department, and subsequently entered a restricted area such as Shanatala Point.

Officials are also investigating the possibility that he may have died by suicide after jumping from Shanatala Point. Police have stressed that none of these possibilities has been established. “A missing complaint has been registered, and the FIR also says so. That is what is being investigated,” the police official said.

Forest department officials said the temple and the deemed forest patch share a common survey number. They also said there are no restrictions in the area under the control of the Muzrai Department. Beat foresters are deployed to patrol the area and are being questioned as part of the investigation.

Officials said there are no restrictions on entry or exit and that the location does not have a ticketing system. Rail barricades have been installed at strategic points around the hill and at the hilltop to mark sensitive areas and warn visitors against entering them. However, officials said people sometimes jump over the barricades.

Search Operation Continues

The search involves teams from the forest department, police and SDRF, with drones being used to examine difficult terrain. Officials are also questioning local residents and villagers surrounding the hill for any information about Upadhyey.

A senior police official said it was difficult to draw any conclusion at this stage because several possibilities remained under investigation. With villages surrounding Shivagange Hills and sufficient lighting in some areas to guide visitors towards them, officials are also examining whether anyone may have seen Upadhyey after his last confirmed location. The search operation remains underway as authorities try to establish what happened after Upadhyey was last seen and locate him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2026 09:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).