Amaravati: The body of Bodu Hanumantha Rao (64), a bank official, was tracked down by police on Friday after he went missing with another bank official Katta Sivakumar in Nallamala forest.

Three friends Hanumantha Rao, Katta Sivakumar and Dalavath Krishna Naik set out in search of a treasure in Nallamala forest on May 12. Naik backed out on May 14, while the other two continued their hunt.

After Naik reached Markapuram, he informed police about what had happened and requested them to look for his friends, Markapuram Police advised him to approach Tativaripalle Police, who launched a search and rescue operation.

On May 16 police found the body of Shivakumar in the woods, 5 km kilometres from the Tativaripalle check-post, but Rao was nowhere in sight.

Police continued its search and tracked down Rao’s body by the evening of May 17. Rao’s body was found 8 km from the check post.

Preliminary investigations reveal that both Rao and Sivakumar died of dehydration.

Rao’s body was brought back to Tativaripalle and his relatives were informed. Rao is from Mannagi village in Kollipara mandal of Guntur district, same as Dalavath Krishna Naik.

Police have registered a case and are conducting an investigation.