New York: While the 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 mystery around his disappearance is getting deeper.
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.
