Search teams are actively looking for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student who vanished while vacationing in the Dominican Republic. Investigators consider various scenarios, including drowning and foul play, as they utilize advanced technology and local resources to assist in the search.
Ongoing Search for Missing University Student Sudiksha Konanki in Dominican Republic
Ongoing Search for Missing University Student Sudiksha Konanki in Dominican Republic
Investigators search for Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who went missing during spring break in Punta Cana, with efforts now entering their second week.
The search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who went missing during spring break in the Dominican Republic, has now entered its second week. Last seen in the early hours of March 6 at a hotel, her case is being treated as a missing persons investigation, with authorities exploring several potential outcomes, including the possibility of drowning and foul play.
Sudiksha is a biology and chemistry major who traveled to Punta Cana with a group of five female friends, per reports from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Originally from India, she resides in Chantilly, Virginia. Surveillance footage pinpoints the last known sighting of her, showing Sudiksha walking with friends towards the beach. Afterward, she remained on the beach with a male companion while the rest returned to their hotel, according to information provided by Dominican police.
Dominican President Luis Abinader disclosed during a recent press conference that the last individual to contact Sudiksha indicated a wave hit them while they were on the beach. The family of this individual, Joshua Riibe, a senior at St. Cloud State University, has publicly expressed their hope for Sudiksha's safe return. They have also expressed faith that the investigation will be approached with fairness and transparency for all involved.
Authorities report that extensive search efforts have been undertaken, employing drones and dividing search areas to maximize coverage. Footage is transmitted to a central command center where AI technology seeks to identify objects in the water. Investigators have yet to discover any evidence of foul play, such as blood or signs of violence, at the beach.
The University of Pittsburgh is coordinating with various federal agencies, including the FBI and the DHS, in response to Sudiksha's disappearance. Additionally, Interpol has issued a worldwide alert, providing a yellow notice aimed at individuals who have gone missing under suspicious circumstances.
