Search Ongoing for Missing University of Pittsburgh Student in Dominican Republic

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student from the University of Pittsburgh, went missing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during spring break. Last seen on surveillance footage at the beach, extensive searches are ongoing amid concerns from her family about potential foul play. The investigation is being supported by local, national, and international authorities, including the FBI and the Indian Embassy.

Authorities are conducting extensive searches in the Dominican Republic for a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, Sudiksha Konanki, who went missing during spring break in Punta Cana. She was last captured on surveillance alongside seven others entering the beach at the Riu República Hotel around 4:15 a.m. on Thursday. Konanki had arrived in the country on March 3.

Surveillance footage later documented a group of six leaving the beach, with Konanki thought to remain with a young man. This individual left the area at 9:55 a.m., but no further sighting of Konanki has been reported. ABC News has suggested that she may have drowned after a large wave encountered the pair during swimming.

Investigators are probing the circumstances of Konanki’s disappearance, including interviewing the young man and others last seen with her. Konanki’s father expressed concerns about potential foul play, requesting that authorities consider the possibility of kidnapping or human trafficking in this investigation.

Since Friday, the La Altagracia Civil Defense has been involved in the search effort, utilizing drones, helicopters, and canine units in a comprehensive operation spanning land, sea, and air. Authorities asserted that an exhaustive investigation is underway with collaboration from multiple agencies.

The Riu Hotels chain has expressed their concern regarding Konanki’s disappearance, indicating efforts to assist local authorities. The University of Pittsburgh has also reached out to the family, urging anyone with information about Konanki to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

While the FBI is prepared to provide support, Dominican authorities currently oversee the investigation. Konanki’s family, permanent residents in the U.S. since 2006, are receiving assistance from the Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic.

The ongoing search for Sudiksha Konanki highlights the collaborative efforts of numerous authorities in the Dominican Republic and the concerns of her family regarding her mysterious disappearance. As investigations pursue multiple lines of inquiry including potential foul play, the involvement of international entities like the FBI and the Indian Embassy underscores the serious implications of this case. The commitment of the University of Pittsburgh and Riu Hotels to support the investigation reflects the urgent need for resolution and closure for Konanki’s loved ones.

Original Source: globalnews.ca