Indian-Origin Student Sudiksha Konanki in US Disappeared on Trip to Dominican Republic, Search On

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are questioning a young man who was reportedly with missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki shortly before her disappearance in Punta Cana, a local police source told CNN.

Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian national, was last seen heading to the beach with seven others from the Riu República Hotel around 4 a.m. on Thursday, according to a statement from the Dominican National Police. She had arrived in the country on March 3 with five companions.

Surveillance footage from around 5:55 a.m. captured five women and one man leaving the beach. Konanki is believed to have remained behind with a young man, the police source said.

Later surveillance footage shows the young man leaving the beach area at 9:55 a.m., with no sign of Sudiksha Konanki, according to a police source.

Authorities have questioned the man to determine what happened while the two were alone. The Dominican National Police said they are expanding the investigation to verify his account.

Investigators are also interviewing others who were last seen with Konanki on Thursday to help determine where their maritime search efforts should be focused.

Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, told CNN that his daughter had traveled to Punta Cana for spring break before starting pre-med studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

“My daughter is a very nice girl. She’s ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine,” he said.

According to her father, Konanki told friends on Wednesday that she was heading to a party at the resort.

“She went to the beach on March 6 early morning around 4 a.m. with friends and some other guys they met at the resort. After that, her friends returned after some time, but my daughter did not come back. She did not show up from the beach,” he said.

Her friends alerted authorities when they realized she was not in her room the following morning.

“So far, multiple authorities in the Dominican Republic have searched the waters using helicopters and other tools. They also searched nearby bays, bushes, and trees, going over the same areas multiple times,” Subbarayudu Konanki said.

Konanki’s companions reported her missing around 4 p.m. Thursday, nearly 12 hours after she was last seen at 4 a.m., according to a statement from the Riu hotel chain.

“We want to express our sincerest empathy toward the family and friends during this very difficult time. The safety and well-being of our guests are our highest priority, and we are committed to doing everything possible to assist in this situation,” the hotel said, adding that staff are cooperating with authorities in the search.

Konanki had been staying at the resort with five other female students from the University of Pittsburgh, according to the sheriff’s office in Loudoun County, Virginia, where she is a resident.

Her family, originally from India, has lived in the United States since 2006 and are permanent residents.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said they were contacted Thursday evening and have since coordinated with federal law enforcement, the U.S. State Department, and officials in the Dominican Republic.

“The embassy of India in the DR has taken the lead, working with our State Department and law enforcement on the ground. Our office is supporting those efforts and continuing to investigate locally,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement to CNN.

In a photo shared by Defensa Civil La Altagracia on Saturday, March 8, personnel from various agencies can be seen searching the coastal area of Bávaro, Dominican Republic, for Sudiksha Konanki.

The Dominican National Emergency System is leading search efforts across the island for Sudiksha Konanki.

“In coordination with the Tourism Police, the Civil Defense, the Dominican Navy, the National Police, and other rescue organizations, four drone teams equipped with advanced technology have been deployed to conduct a thorough search in the coastal area of Bávaro,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday.

The University of Pittsburgh has urged anyone with information to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

“University officials are in contact with Sudiksha Konanki’s family as well as authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia, and we have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely,” the university said in a statement emailed to CNN.

Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, is calling for a broader investigation.

“They’re only looking in the water, but I want them to also investigate other possibilities, including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking,” he said.

“We don’t think she would be able to survive for more than three days in the water, and I believe something else might have happened to her,” he told CNN from Punta Cana on Sunday.

The U.S. State Department currently has a Level 2 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, warning U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution when visiting.

“Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assault, is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic,” the department stated in a June 2024 travel advisory.

The advisory urges U.S. visitors to stay aware of their surroundings and avoid displaying signs of wealth.

The Embassy of India stated on Facebook that it is “extending all assistance in coordination with government authorities of the Dominican Republic.”

This story has been updated with additional information.