Authorities in the Dominican Republic are looking into the case of a missing student from the University of Pittsburgh. They’ve engaged a young man who was reportedly with Sudiksha Konanki just before her disappearance.
Sudiksha, a 20-year-old student from India, was last seen at around 4 a.m. on Thursday at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana. She was at the beach with seven friends and had arrived in the Dominican Republic just a few days earlier with a group of five.
Surveillance footage shows five women and one man exiting the beach around 5:55 a.m. It’s believed Sudiksha stayed behind with one of the men. Later footage showed him leaving the beach area at 9:55 a.m., but there was no sign of Sudiksha.
The police are questioning this man to find out what happened when they were together. They are expanding their investigation and are also talking to others who were at the hotel during the same time.
Sudiksha’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, shared that she went to Punta Cana for spring break before starting her pre-med studies. He described her as an ambitious young woman aspiring to be a doctor and mentioned that she had plans to attend a party at the resort.
After her friends returned from the beach without Sudiksha, they reported her missing when she didn’t show up the next morning. The local authorities began searching for her, using helicopters and various techniques to cover both the waters and the nearby land.
The hotel management expressed their concern and assured that they are cooperating with the search efforts, stating that the safety of their guests is a top priority.
Sudiksha was in Punta Cana with five other students. Her family has lived in the United States since 2006 and are permanent residents. The local sheriff’s office in Loudoun County, Virginia, is working with federal authorities and the State Department regarding the situation.
The Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic is actively supporting the Konanki family in this delicate matter. They have been coordinating with local authorities for a thorough investigation.
The Dominican National Emergency System is leading the search operations. They have deployed drones and are working alongside various rescue organizations to comb the area thoroughly.
The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, advising travelers to be cautious due to the risk of violent crime. They recommend that visitors remain aware of their surroundings and avoid displaying wealth.
Subbarayudu Konanki has called for local authorities to broaden their search and consider all possibilities, including kidnapping or human trafficking, voicing his concerns about his daughter’s safety.
As search efforts continue, authorities hope to find more leads that could lead to Sudiksha’s safe return.
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