The search for missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki, who disappeared during a spring break trip in the Dominican Republic, has now reached its fourth day as of Monday. The 20-year-old junior was last spotted in the early morning hours of March 6 entering the beach area of the RIU hotel in Punta Cana where she was staying, according to the Dominican Republic National Police. Konanki, along with five college friends, had arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3 and were all staying at the same hotel.
The National Police was informed of Konanki’s disappearance on Friday morning, prompting an extensive search effort involving sea, air, and land resources such as drones, helicopters, divers, boats, and canine units. Police suspect that she went missing around 4:15 a.m. after she and her friends were seen on surveillance footage entering the beach area, with her friends returning to the hotel but Konanki not being seen again.
Authorities have been conducting interviews with Konanki’s friends and a young man who was on the beach at the time, in an effort to piece together what happened. RIU Hotels expressed deep concern over the disappearance and pledged full cooperation with authorities in the search. Konanki’s family in Virginia has been notified of her disappearance, and local authorities are working alongside U.S. officials in the investigation.
Konanki’s friends, who were due to return to the U.S. on Friday, have chosen to stay back to assist in the search effort. Law enforcement agencies are considering all possibilities in Konanki’s disappearance, from accidental circumstances to potential foul play. The University of Pittsburgh and the Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic are both providing support and assistance in the ongoing investigation.
