Local authorities launched a massive land, air, and sea operation to find her. The FBI has also joined the search.
What was supposed to be a fantastic vacation with friends in the Dominican Republic turned into a nightmare. Sudiksha Konanki, a young U.S. student, disappeared without a trace. Local authorities launched a large-scale operation to locate her.
At 20 years old, Konanki was in her third year of medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To celebrate her spring break, she decided to travel with her friends to Punta Cana. She arrived in the Caribbean country on March 3, and three days later, her friends reported her missing.
«My daughter is a very good girl. She is ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine,» her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, told CNN.
Upon learning of her disappearance, Konanki’s family traveled to the Dominican Republic and urged local authorities to intensify the search for their daughter.
Originally from India, the Konanki family has lived in the United States since 2006 and currently resides in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Dominican President Luis Abinader assured that «all government agencies are involved in the search.» He added, «The latest information we have from the last person who was with the young woman, according to reports, is that a wave hit them while they were at the beach.»
Authorities are searching for the young medical student by land, air, and sea, covering both the surrounding areas and nearby regions. Drones, helicopters, divers, boats, canine units, and law enforcement officers have all been deployed, according to the EFE news agency. The FBI has also joined the search efforts.
What Happened to Konanki?
Security cameras at the RIU hotel, where she was staying, captured Konanki for the last time as she returned from the beach with her group of friends in the early hours of March 6.
Her father filed the missing person report two days later. «Her friends returned after a while, but my daughter never came back. She didn’t return from the beach,» he told CNN.
Local authorities found Konanki’s clothing on the beach. The garment, a sarong, showed no signs of violence, according to CNN.
Additionally, a 20-year-old man, believed to be the last person to see the young student, was interrogated by security forces. However, he was not considered a suspect.
