Lost, still not found...

So I lost my pet cat last Friday. My mom was returning to Mumbai from Pune when she stopped on the highway to let my cat poop. The poor thing got frightened out of his wits thanks to the strange sights and sounds and ran away.

Been going back to that spot nearly everyday since then but there's no sign of him (it's a two-hour drive from my home in Mumbai, a village called Pimploli). The village is located along the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway and the spot where he ran off is basically a road running through a wide expanse of rice fields on both sides.

Four days ago, my mom had gone back and saw him hiding in the hollow of the overhead bridge and tried to get him. Unfortunately, it had turned dark by then and they didn't have any flashlights. When we returned to the spot the next morning, he'd disappeared. Even the food we left there remains untouched.

We've given out flyers with his picture to a few villagers and they've promised to look out for him. I've given up hope now, but don't want to give up looking for him. But I don't know what more I can do.

It's been 8 days. I can only pray that I see him again someday. If any of you have any ideas about how I could possibly trace him, would appreciate the help.