"We don't know if there's any foul play"
A US Indian student mysteriously vanished during a Spring Break trip to the Dominican Republic, prompting a major search operation.
University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki was last seen at 4:50 am on March 6 on the beach at Riu Republica Resort. She has not been seen or heard from since.
The 20-year-old from Virginia was reported missing while travelling with a group of university friends in Punta Cana.
Police said she was last seen walking on the beach wearing a bikini.
Sudiksha is described as 5’3″, with black hair and brown eyes.
A missing person poster detailed that she was last seen wearing large round earrings, a metal designer anklet on her right leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right wrist, and multi-coloured bracelets on her left.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said investigations are ongoing.
Spokesman Thomas Julia said: “We don’t know if there’s any foul play or if she accidentally went missing.
“This is primarily being handled on the ground in the Dominican Republic.”
He noted that the Indian embassy in the country had also “taken the lead on the ground.”
Defensa Civil, a Dominican search and rescue team, began searching for Sudiksha on March 8. The operation ended at 8 pm before resuming at 5 am the next day.
The University of Pittsburgh confirmed it was in contact with Sudiksha’s family and local officials.
University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer said: “We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely.”
Sudiksha Konanki is expected to graduate in 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile.
There is now the concern that the US Indian student may have died by drowning.
According to Dominican officials, Sudiksha was walking with six people on the beach the night before.
Most returned to the hotel but one person stayed with her. She and this person later went for a swim and were reportedly caught by a large wave.
Thomas Julia questioned the report, saying speculation that Sudiksha drowned may be “based on her last known location near the beach”.
He said:
“But [there’s] no evidence to support that conclusion at this time.”
“The investigation is looking at everything from an accident to foul play and interviews are ongoing, along with review of video and phone records.
“The best outcome is that she is found alive and well.”
Authorities have interviewed her friends to establish where the maritime search should be focused.
Her friends said Sudiksha had told them she was heading to a party at the resort on Wednesday night. They alerted authorities when she was not in her room the following morning.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
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