Search Intensifies for Missing University of Pittsburgh Student in Dominican Republic
Authorities are engaged in an intensive search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia who vanished last week while vacationing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Konanki, who is on spring break, was last seen on Thursday at approximately 4:50 a.m. local time, walking along a beach at the Riu Republica Resort.
The Dominican Civil Defense, along with various other agencies, is spearheading the search efforts in the coastal area of Bávaro, a popular region of beach resorts in Punta Cana. Missing person posters have been widely circulated on social media to aid in the search, providing a description of Konanki and her last known whereabouts.
Konanki is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. When last seen, she was wearing a brown bikini, large round earrings, a metal designer anklet on her right leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right hand, and a multicolored beaded bracelet on her left hand.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia is actively involved in the investigation, having been contacted about Konanki’s disappearance on Thursday evening. The sheriff’s office has immediately reached out to federal law enforcement, the U.S. Department of State, and authorities in the Dominican Republic to coordinate search efforts.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed that Konanki was part of a group of six female students from the University of Pittsburgh who traveled to Punta Cana. At least two of the students are residents of Loudoun County, including Konanki, who is a citizen of India.
The Embassy of India in the Dominican Republic is playing a crucial role in the investigation, collaborating closely with the U.S. State Department and local law enforcement to locate Konanki. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is providing support to the search efforts and conducting investigations locally in Virginia to gather any relevant information.
The University of Pittsburgh has issued a statement expressing their concern for Konanki’s well-being and offering their full support to her family and authorities involved in the search. "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 stated.
Anyone with information regarding Konanki’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.
Fernando Castillo, the director of the Dominican Civil Defense in the area, stated that the orange Search and Rescue Unit, along with other institutions, has been working tirelessly since early Saturday morning to find Konanki. Despite their efforts, they have not yet been successful in locating her.
The search efforts resumed on Sunday at 6 a.m. local time, with officials deploying drones and helicopters from the Dominican Armed Forces to expand the search area and improve visibility. The Dominican Civil Defense is coordinating with local firefighters, local police, the Dominican National Police, and the Dominican Navy to ensure a comprehensive search of the coastal area.
The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki has sparked widespread concern and a unified effort from various agencies and organizations to bring her home safely. The collaboration between local and international authorities, coupled with the deployment of advanced search technologies, underscores the commitment to finding Konanki and resolving this urgent situation. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities pursuing all available leads to determine her whereabouts and ensure her well-being. The focus remains on the Dominican Republic as the investigation unfolds.
