The search for 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, a student from the University of Pittsburgh, has intensified as authorities continue their investigation into her disappearance in the Dominican Republic. Konanki was last seen in the early hours of March 6, 2025, when she went to the beach at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana with friends and others she met during her spring break trip. Authorities are questioning a young man believed to have been with her just before she vanished, as search teams conduct a broad land and sea search for any signs of the missing student.
Timeline of Events and Search Efforts
Sudiksha Konanki, an Indian national, traveled to the Dominican Republic on March 3 with five other students. According to local police, she was seen at the beach around 4 a.m. on March 6. Surveillance footage shows a group of five women and one man leaving the beach around 5:55 a.m., but Konanki remained behind with the young man. By 9:55 a.m., the man was seen leaving the beach alone, and Konanki was nowhere to be found.
The search for Konanki began soon after her friends reported her missing the following day. Local authorities have been working around the clock to find her, using helicopters, drones, and search teams to comb the waters and coastal areas near Bávaro. Authorities have also focused on conducting a land search through nearby bushes and trees, hoping to locate any clues.
Search and Rescue Operations in Punta Cana
The Dominican National Emergency System is leading the search efforts, with the help of several local and national agencies, including the Civil Defense, the Dominican Navy, and the National Police. To enhance the search, teams equipped with drones have been deployed, utilizing advanced technology to cover a wide coastal area in Bávaro.
The University of Pittsburgh, where Konanki is a pre-med student, has offered its full support to the family and authorities, assisting with the investigation. The Konanki family, originally from India, has been in close contact with law enforcement and the U.S. State Department, who are coordinating efforts with the Embassy of India in the Dominican Republic.
Family’s Plea and Investigation Update
Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, has expressed his deep concern over the investigation’s current direction. While authorities are focusing on the water, he believes the investigation should broaden to explore the possibility of kidnapping or human trafficking. “We don’t think she would survive for more than three days in the water,” he stated, urging officials to consider all possibilities.
Authorities are continuing to interview individuals who were last seen with Konanki, attempting to piece together a clearer picture of what happened after she and the young man parted ways on the beach. The police are also working to verify the young man’s version of events to establish a more detailed timeline.
Support from Local and International Authorities
In addition to the search teams, the U.S. State Department and the Indian Embassy have been in close communication, offering assistance and monitoring the situation. A Level 2 travel advisory has been issued by the U.S. State Department, urging travelers to exercise increased caution while visiting the Dominican Republic due to the ongoing concerns of violent crime in the region.
University and Family’s Response
The University of Pittsburgh is maintaining regular communication with the Konanki family and local authorities. “We are doing everything possible to assist in the search for Sudiksha and bring her home safely,” the university stated. Meanwhile, the Konanki family continues to hold out hope that their daughter will be found and returned safely, despite the challenges faced during the search.
Conclusion: A Community’s Support and Continued Search
As the investigation continues, Sudiksha Konanki’s family, friends, and the local community are rallying around the efforts to bring her home. The coordinated search operations, led by both Dominican and international authorities, are focused on both land and sea, with drones and other high-tech tools aiding in the search. While authorities explore every angle of this concerning case, the Konanki family remains hopeful for a positive resolution.
In this tragic and unnerving situation, the support from the University of Pittsburgh and the local communities is proving invaluable as the search for Sudiksha Konanki continues.