CHANTILLY, Va. (Diya TV) — Authorities are intensifying the search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student at the University of Pittsburgh, who went missing during a spring break vacation trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The Dominican authorities and the American authorities are investigating in cooperation with one another.
Konanki, a Chantilly, Virginia resident and Indian citizen, traveled to Punta Cana on March 3 with five other students. She was last spotted early on March 6 on the beach in front of the Riu República Resort. She was seen on surveillance footage around 4:15 a.m. walking with friends and a man who is estimated to be in his 20s. At approximately 4:55 a.m., five women and a man are seen exiting the beach, leaving the unidentified male behind with Konanki.
The man was subsequently observed leaving the beach alone at 8:55 a.m. Local police have embarked on large-scale search operations with drones, helicopters, boats, divers, and dogs. Although they have yet to find her, Konanki is still missing. Her apparel was found in a beach recliner with no indications of violent means, sparking speculations for a possible case of drowning. Yet, authorities have been appealed by her father to explore alternative options such as kidnapping or trafficking due to there being no recovered body.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also entered the search, coordinating with Dominican officials. The Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic is also involved, considering Konanki’s citizenship. Dominican President Luis Abinader has already shown concern regarding the disappearance, and all government bodies are involved in the search process.
The University of Pittsburgh is in touch with Konanki’s family and has provided full cooperation in the search process. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, where Konanki’s family is based, has submitted a Yellow Notice to INTERPOL, an international alert for a missing person.
Konanki’s parents have gone to the Dominican Republic, begging for a proper probe. Her father characterized her as ambitious, as she was gearing up for pre-med studies. The authorities are still interviewing those who were with Konanki when she went missing and are reviewing security cameras. The investigation is ongoing, and all avenues are being pursued.
Anyone with information about the location of Sudiksha Konanki is asked to reach out to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office or local authorities in the Dominican Republic.
