Authorities in the Dominican Republic are actively searching for a missing American student, Sudiksha Konanki, aged 20, who vanished while on holiday last week. Konanki, a resident of the U.S. and a University of Pittsburgh student, was last captured on surveillance footage alongside seven others entering the beach at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana early on Thursday morning.
Initial footage shows Konanki and her friends, including five women and two men, socialising in the hotel lobby around 3 am before heading to the beach. According to her father, Subbarayudu Konanki, her group went to the beach around 4 am, but Sudiksha never returned, prompting her friends to search for her and ultimately contact hotel staff around 4 pm the same day.
Search efforts have been extensive, utilising helicopters, drones, search dogs, and teams scouring the nearby waters, bushes, and trees. Authorities have interviewed a young man thought to be the last person with Konanki, revealing discrepancies in his account of the night. He claimed they both entered the ocean, but after feeling unwell, he left and fell asleep on a lounge chair, later stating he might have seen her walking along the beach. Despite thorough investigations, the local police have not declared him a suspect.
A sarong belonging to Konanki was discovered on a lounge chair at the beach, and authorities confirmed there were no signs of violence at the scene. The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, urging Americans to exercise caution due to potential violent crime.
Meanwhile, the Konanki family, who have lived in the U.S. since 2006 and are originally from India, are receiving support from local law enforcement in Virginia. The sheriff’s office has liaised with federal authorities and requested a Yellow Notice—a global alert for missing persons—through Interpol. Both the Indian Embassy in the Dominican Republic and the U.S. State Department are collaborating to assist in the ongoing search and investigation.
As search efforts continue and the quest for answers remains critical, Konanki’s family and friends are left hopeful for her safe return.