Parents of missing Indian student Sudiksha Konanki accept she drowned in Punta Cana

After a frantic search for over 10 days from various authorities in the Dominican Republic, parents of the missing Indian-origin student tearfully accepted on Tuesday that their daughter had drowned.

It was on the fateful day of March 6 when a 20-year-old college student Sudiksha Konanki went missing during a spring break trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

In a heartbreaking statement, Sudiksha’s father Subbaryudu said, “It is with deep sadness & heavy heart that we are coming to terms with the fact that our daughter has drowned. This is incredibly difficult to process, we kindly request you to keep our daughter in your prayers.”

Her parents asked for “time and privacy to focus on healing”.

While Sudiksha’s father talked to the media, her mother broke down.

“Sudiksha’s family has expressed their belief that she drowned,” the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) in Virginia said in a statement on Tuesday.  

“We will support the Konanki family in every way possible as we continue to review the evidence and information made available to us during this investigation.”

“The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki is tragic, and we cannot imagine the grief her family has been feeling. We have supported them throughout to ensure a rigorous, wide-ranging investigation. We have also met personally with them and continue to provide emotional support through our Victim Advocate Unit,” LCSO added.

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