3 weeks ago
Missing Bengaluru Techie: Police Suspect Suicide Plan at Shivagange Hill
A man who works with computers went hiking alone on a big, rocky hill called Shivagange.
He told the woman he was going to marry about his plan, and he sent her a picture while he was on the hill.
Then, nobody could reach him anymore.
Police found his motorcycle parked at the bottom of the hill.
They searched his computer and found that he had asked an AI helper questions about falling from the hill and how long it would take to die.
That made the police think he might have planned to hurt himself, but they have not said for sure that he died.
Rescue teams have been looking for him for three days using special flying cameras called drones.
It has been raining a lot, which makes the search harder.
They found his bag and sweater in a dangerous part of the hill where people are not allowed to go.
His family thinks someone may have taken him because his phone's last location was far away from where his things were found.
Advait Upadhyaya, a 31-year-old software professional from Indore living in Kadugodi, Bengaluru, went missing during a solo trek at Shivagange Hill on August 7 after informing his fiancée.
Police recovered his laptop and found AI-tool searches about the time it would take to die from a fall off the hill, strengthening suspicion of a planned suicide.
His shoulder bag and sweater were found at Shantala Point (Shantala Drop), a prohibited and dangerous area, while his phone's last location was recorded about 20-22 km away near Kuduru on Kunigal Road.
Search teams of roughly 60-100 personnel, including police, SDRF, NDRF, fire and forest department staff, have used high-resolution drones for three days, hampered by a week of rain.
Police have not confirmed his death and are weighing suicide, a slip during rain, or venturing into restricted terrain, while his family insists he may have been kidnapped.
- Who
- Advait Upadhyaya (also reported as Advaith Upadhyey and Advait Upadhyay), a 31-year-old software professional from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, residing in Kadugodi, Bengaluru
- What
- Went missing while on a solo trek at Shivagange Hill; police suspect a possible planned suicide after finding AI-tool laptop searches, while his family suspects kidnapping
- Where
- Shivagange Hill, about 70 km from Bengaluru (reported as Tumakuru district in one article and Bengaluru Rural district in others); his phone's last location was near Kuduru on Kunigal Road
- When
- Friday, August 7, when he began the trek and became unreachable; search has been underway for three days as of August 10
- Why
- Police suspect he may have planned to take his own life based on laptop searches about falling from the hill, while his family believes he may have been kidnapped because his phone's last location was far from the hilltop
Police: Suicide or accident suspected
Family: Kidnapping suspected
Cause of disappearance
Police: Suicide or accident suspected
Police suspect Upadhyaya may have planned suicide, citing laptop searches using an AI tool about the time it would take to die from falling off Shivagange Hill; they also consider that he slipped and fell after venturing into the prohibited Shantala Point area during rain.
Family: Kidnapping suspected
The family insists he may have been kidnapped, pointing out that his phone's last location was about 20-22 km away from the spot where his bag and sweater were found.
Key facts
- Missing person
- Advait Upadhyaya (also Advaith Upadhyey / Advait Upadhyay)
- Age and profession
- 31-year-old software professional; IIT alumnus with a master's in cybersecurity
- Hometown / residence
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh; resident of Kadugodi, Bengaluru
- Date of disappearance
- August 7; began ascent around 6:45-7:30 am
- Location
- Shivagange Hill, about 70 km from Bengaluru
- Key evidence
- AI-tool laptop searches on dying from a hill fall; bag and sweater found at Shantala Point
- Phone's last location
- Near Kuduru on Kunigal Road, about 20-22 km from where belongings were found
- Search teams
- 60-100 personnel including police, SDRF, NDRF, fire and forest departments





