Shivagange trekker’s search record adds suicide angle to probe: Report
As drones spot possible body near Shantala Drop, police probe laptop searches suggesting suicidal intent while rescue teams continue to scour treacherous terrain
The disappearance of a solo trekker at Shivagange Hill on the outskirts of Bengaluru has reportedly taken a fresh twist, with the police having reasons to suspect that it may be a case of suicide.
Police have reportedly examined 31-year-old Advait Upadhyay’s search details on his laptop and found that he sought to know how long it could take to die if he fell from Shivagange Hill, the height of the hill, and the possible consequences of a fall.
However, the police have not confirmed his death and are still trying to locate him.
Drones spot a ‘body’
The Times of India reported on Tuesday (August 11) that the drones being used to scan inaccessible sections of Shivagange captured what appeared to be a body trapped in dense vegetation near the base of Shantala Drop, one of the steepest sections of Shivagange.
Also read: Three days on, no trace of Shivagange solo trekker; last phone location off trail
However, police have not confirmed whether it is a human body, whose it might be, or whether it could be Upadhyay.
Rescue personnel have so far not been able to reach anywhere near the suspected body.
Search enters fifth day
Upadhyay, a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, went missing from Shivagange Hills in Nelamangala taluk of Bengaluru Rural district on August 7.
He told his fiancée that he planned to do the solo trek and she lodged a police complaint when she could not contact him till evening, when his phone became unreachable.
Also read: Lost but unafraid: Kerala trekker unfazed after spending 3 days alone in Kodagu forest
It has been four days since nearly 100 personnel from the state police, SDRF, NDRF, fire, forest, emergency personnel and others have been scouring the treacherous terrain for the IIT-ian who worked for a finance firm in Whitefield.
Reached Shivagange three days in advance?
On Tuesday, news agency IANS reported, citing police sources, that a laptop has been found in Upadhyay’s Kadugodi residence in Bengaluru, which revealed that he ran an AI-search for the time it would take to die if he fell from Shivagange Hill.
In another development, police now reportedly suspect that Upadhyay may have reached Shivagange on August 4, three days before his trek, and not on August 7 as police believed so far. He rented a bike to reach Shivagange, which has been found parked near the foothills.
On August 7, after beginning the trek, Upadhyay also reportedly sent a photograph to his fiancée. Another trekker also reportedly captured Upadhyay at the hilltop.
(Suicides can be prevented. For help, please call Suicide Prevention Helplines: Neha Suicide Prevention Centre – 044-24640050; Aasara helpline for suicide prevention, emotional support & trauma help — +91-9820466726; Kiran, Mental health rehabilitation — 1800-599-0019, Disha 0471- 2552056, Maithri 0484 2540530, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)