Indian-Origin Student Sudiksha Konanki Missing in Dominican Republic; Search Underway
PUNTA CANA – A large-scale search operation is underway in the Dominican Republic as authorities from both the island nation and the United States work together to locate Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student of Indian descent. Konanki, who attends the University of Pittsburgh, disappeared while on holiday in Punta Cana.
Police reports indicate that Konanki arrived in Punta Cana on March 3rd with a group of five fellow students. She was last seen in the early hours of March 6th, at approximately 4:00 AM, reportedly taking a walk on the beach near the RIU Republica Resort where she was staying.
Investigators are currently questioning a young man who was reportedly with Konanki shortly before she went missing. Surveillance footage reportedly shows this man and five women leaving the beach area around 5:55 AM, with Konanki believed to have remained behind with the young man. The footage further shows the young man leaving the beach alone at 9:55 AM. The maritime search is being heavily influenced by the account given by this young man, according to police sources. Konanki’s fellow students are also being interviewed as part of the investigation.
At the time of her disappearance, Konanki was reportedly wearing a brown two-piece bikini and distinctive jewelry, including large round earrings, a metal anklet, a multi-colored bracelet, and yellow-steel bracelets. These details are being circulated to aid in identification.
Subbarayudu Konanki, Sudiksha’s father, stated that his daughter was on spring break and had gone to the beach with friends and men they met at the resort. While her friends returned, Sudiksha did not. Hotel sources indicate that her friends notified authorities around 4:00 PM local time, some 12 hours after she was last seen.
Konanki’s family, who have roots in India and have been permanent residents of Loudoun County, Virginia in the US since 2006, are deeply concerned. The Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic is actively involved, coordinating with both the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Dominican law enforcement to assist in the search efforts.
The extensive search involves a collaboration of Dominican agencies including Civil Defense, the Navy, firefighters, regular Police, and tourist police (Politur). Helicopters and drones are being utilized to cover both land and sea in the ongoing effort to find Sudiksha Konanki.