The search for 31-year-old Indore resident Adwait Upadhyay, who went missing while trekking in the Shivagange hills near Nelamangala in Bengaluru, entered its seventh day on Thursday, with rescue teams yet to locate him.

Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire department teams continued searching different sections of the approximately 4,500-foot-high Shivagange hills. Drones are also being used to scan difficult and inaccessible stretches of the terrain.

At the same time, Bengaluru Police have expanded the investigation beyond the search operation. Adwait's mobile phone and drone were found near Shantala Drop, prompting investigators to examine his mobile location history, call detail records (CDR), SIM connections, digital activity and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Mobile, SIM Connections Under Scanner

Adwait's mobile phone was recovered near Shantala Drop. Investigators are examining its location data, call records and other digital activity.

Police are also checking whether another SIM card had been issued in Adwait's name. Investigators are looking into the possibility of any additional number or SIM connection that could have been used by him or could provide information about his contacts before he went missing.

The objective is to establish a detailed timeline of his movements and communications.

Police Examine August 6-7 Calls

The call records from August 6 and 7 are being treated as important parts of the investigation. Police are checking whom Adwait contacted during these two days, apart from his fiancée.

Investigators are also examining his interactions with female friends and other acquaintances. Officials are trying to determine who was in contact with him before his disappearance and whether any conversation provides clues about his movements, state of mind or reason for visiting the hills.

Police have not identified anyone as a suspect and have not confirmed any dispute. These contacts are being examined as part of the investigation.

Drone Purchase Becomes Key Lead

Adwait's drone was also recovered near Shantala Drop. Police are now investigating when and where the device was purchased and whether anyone accompanied him at the time.

Investigators are seeking information from the drone manufacturer, local dealers and others involved in its sale. They are checking the purchase date, payment details and other transaction records.

The police are also examining the drone's technical data to determine when it was last flown and whether photographs or videos stored on the device could provide clues about Adwait's movements.

Difficult Terrain Complicates Search

The Shivagange hills are characterised by rocky terrain, steep sections and narrow trails. Rain has also made several stretches slippery and difficult to access.

Multiple SDRF, police and fire department teams are searching different parts of the hill. Drones are being deployed to survey areas where rescue personnel cannot easily reach.

Special attention is being given to the Shantala Drop area because Adwait's mobile phone and drone were recovered there. His bag and sweater had also reportedly been found near the same broader area earlier.

Digital Searches Raise Questions

Investigators have found indications that Adwait may have visited Shivagange on August 4, despite his fiancée's complaint stating that he left for trekking on the morning of August 7.

Police are therefore examining his activities between August 4 and August 7 to establish why he may have visited the area earlier.

His laptop search history reportedly contained searches related to the height of Shivagange hills, routes leading to Shantala Drop and different trekking paths.

Police also found searches using an AI tool concerning how long a person could survive after falling from a height and what could happen to the body following such a fall.

Investigators are considering whether this could indicate a possible self-harm angle. However, police have stressed that search history alone cannot establish what happened and that it must be assessed alongside CDRs, CCTV footage, mobile data and other circumstantial evidence.

Last Contact With Fiancée

According to the missing-person complaint, Adwait called his fiancée at around 7:30 am on August 7 and told her that he was going trekking in the Shivagange hills.

He subsequently stopped responding to calls.

His fiancée filed a missing-person complaint at the Kadugodi police station in Bengaluru's Whitefield subdivision at around 8 pm on August 7. The case was later referred to Nelamangala Police as the search area was identified around Shivagange.

Family Awaits Breakthrough

Adwait is the only son of his family. His father, Professor Pramod Upadhyay, died of a heart attack in 2016. His mother later received a compassionate appointment in the accounts department and subsequently took voluntary retirement. She currently lives alone in Indore.

Adwait had been living in Bengaluru for several years and was working as an engineer at a finance company. He had previously worked as a software professional.

His family remains deeply concerned as the search continues. Relatives have reportedly avoided speaking to the media while waiting for updates from the rescue teams and investigators.

Adwait's fiancée also declined to comment when contacted by Dainik Bhaskar, asking that questions about the case be directed to Bengaluru Police.

Vijayvargiya Speaks to Family

Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has also spoken to Adwait's family and assured them that he would contact Bengaluru Police and help coordinate efforts to locate him.

Indore Crime Branch is also in touch with Bengaluru Police. Information relating to Adwait's family and contacts in Indore is being shared as part of the investigation.

For now, the search and investigation are proceeding on two fronts — rescue teams are scanning the difficult terrain of the Shivagange hills using personnel and drones, while police are examining mobile data, SIM connections, CDRs, digital searches and the history of Adwait's drone purchase.

No definitive conclusion has yet been reached about what happened to Adwait.