BENGALURU: The search for 31-year-old cybersecurity professional Advait Upadhyay, who went missing during a solo trek to Shivagange Hill in Nelamangala taluk, entered a critical phase Sunday, with specialised rescue teams and technology deployed across the hill’s rocky terrain and dense forest patches.

Upadhyay, an IIT alumnus with a master’s degree in cybersecurity, works in Gurugram and was scheduled to marry in Jan. He had rented a motorcycle in Whitefield before riding to Shivagange Friday morning.

CCTV cameras at the foothill captured him beginning his climb around 7.30am. He had informed his fiancee, Prapti Chauhan, of his plans shortly before setting out. There is no footage of him returning, while his mobile phone was switched off soon after. Chauhan later filed a missing person report at Kadugodi police station, following which police alerted teams in Dobbespet and Nelamangala.

Heavy rain hampered the search over the weekend, forcing teams to call off operations Saturday and stalling another attempt Sunday.

Police have now deployed high-resolution drones and specialised metal detectors sourced from the Bengaluru police commissionerate to scan difficult-to-access areas. A 15-member State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has also joined the operation. Teams have mapped key zones around steep drops, rock faces, and other hazardous stretches.

Family members remain at the site as the search continues.

Source: The Times of India