The University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared during spring break in the Dominican Republic is still being sought after nearly a week. According to Virginia authorities, she was last seen on the beach with individuals she had met during her trip. The search for 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, a junior at the university, has entered its fifth day. Dominican Republic National Police are expanding the search by re-interviewing those who had interacted with Konanki and reviewing surveillance footage. Konanki, a biology student, had traveled to Punta Cana with five college friends on March 3. She was last seen with individuals not from her college group on the beach of the RIU Republic Resort. While her friends returned to the hotel, Konanki did not. Authorities are speaking to the people she was last seen with and investigating their accounts. President Luis Abinader mentioned a report of an incident involving a wave hitting them on the beach. Despite efforts, no signs of violence were found. The search efforts involve land and sea teams, drones, K-9 units, and collaboration between Dominican and U.S. authorities. The investigation continues, including checking phone records and issuing a worldwide alert via INTERPOL.
“We want to ensure that we are following up on every possible lead available to us, and we believe we are doing just that.” Shekar Pendem, a neighbor and close family friend of the Konanki family, spoke highly of her, describing her as a kind and intelligent woman within their tight-knit community. Pendem mentioned, “She was an outstanding student who attended an excellent school.” Having lived next to the Konanki family for over a decade, he noted that she has two younger twin siblings. “It’s been nearly four days, and the family is deeply saddened,” he shared. “It would be beneficial to expand the search beyond the resort area to the surrounding city and town, in the hopes of finding some clues. We are all anxiously awaiting her safe return.”
