Search Underway for Missing Bengaluru Trekker Near Dobbspet

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police teams have launched an extensive search operation to locate Advaith Upadhyaya, a 32-year-old private company employee residing in Mythri Layout in East Bengaluru, who went missing on Friday, August 7, while trekking near Dobbspet in Nelamangala.

Upadhyaya, who originally hails from Indore and got engaged a few months ago, had traveled early on Friday on a rental bike to climb Shivagange Hill. After multiple phone calls from his fiancé went unanswered, she reached out to the Kadugodi police station for help. The Kadugodi police subsequently alerted the Dobbspet police station and dispatched special teams to locate him.

An investigator involved in the operation confirmed that security personnel located CCTV footage showing Upadhyaya parking his rented scooter, climbing the hill, and standing at the top of the peak. However, authorities found no footage indicating that he had climbed down. The last CCTV footage captured him at Shanthala Drop, where search teams have now been deployed.

When authorities traced his mobile phone network signal, his last known location was recorded near the Kudur Road deviation near Dobbspet. His mobile phone has since remained switched off, complicating tracking efforts.

Two police teams from Kadugodi, alongside multiple teams from the Nelamangala and Dobbspet police stations and members of the SDRF, are conducting search operations around the hill. Police are also examining surrounding areas to verify whether Upadhyaya appears on any other local CCTV footage.

Police officials stated that relentless rain in the region has made it extremely difficult for search personnel to establish his final movements and determine what happened. Investigators noted that they are exploring two main angles—an accident or a case of attention diversion—and have not ruled out any possibilities as the search operation continues.