Indian origin student on vacation goes missing in Dominican Republic, search underway

A massive search operation is currently underway in the Dominican Republic for a 20-year-old student of University of Pittsburgh, US, identified as Sudiksha Konanki, who went missing from the country’s eastern coast after walk on the beach, as per reports.

Dominican National Emergency System, Konanki, informed that an Indian national was last seen around 4.15 am on Thursday at the Riu República Hotel beach in Punta Cana. Surveillance footage captured her along with a group of young adults near the beach during the early hours of the morning, according to an official statement released in Spanish.

The Dominican National Police have launched a comprehensive investigation and are interrogating the individuals seen accompanying Konanki that night. 

Reports suggest that one of the men had entered the water, and police are now working to connect his version of events while conducting a focused maritime search. However, the authorities have not disclosed further details about the investigation.

A missing person’s poster describing Konanki’s physical features has been widely circulated online, urging people to assist in locating her.

The poster emphasises the urgency of finding Konanki, stating, “We need your help to get the word out! If you are in the area or have any information about her whereabouts, please contact the authorities immediately.”

Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, expressed deep concern in a statement to a media house, mentioning that his daughter had traveled to Punta Cana for spring break ahead of her pre-med studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He described her as an ambitious girl who always dreamed of becoming a doctor.

Recalling the last known information about his daughter, Subbarayudu stated that Konanki informed her friends on Wednesday about attending a party at the resort. However, she reportedly went to the beach around 4 am on March 6 with her friends and some other individuals they met at the resort.

Her friends returned after some time, but his daughter did not come back. She did not show up from the beach, and that is the last her father heard of her.

As the search intensifies, authorities are focusing on the coastline and surrounding areas, hoping to find Konanki or any leads related to her disappearance. The family continues to appeal for public support to help bring her home safely.