Authorities in the Dominican Republic are questioning a young man last seen with Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who vanished after an early morning visit to the beach in Punta Cana last Thursday. Konanki, a U.S. resident originally from India, was last seen entering the beach area at the Riu República Hotel at around 4:15 a.m. on March 6, alongside seven others, according to surveillance footage cited by the Dominican National Police. She had arrived in the country earlier that week with five female friends for spring break.
Authorities say additional footage captured five women and one man leaving the beach at approximately 5:55 a.m., with Konanki reportedly remaining behind with another young man. The same man is later seen leaving alone at 9:55 a.m., raising further questions about what occurred during those unaccounted hours.
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Police confirmed the man has been interviewed in an effort to clarify the timeline of events. Investigators are also questioning others present that night to refine the focus of a land and sea search effort that has intensified in recent days.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we are working to corroborate the version of events shared by the individuals involved,” a police source told local media.
Family Pleads for Broader Investigation
Konanki’s father, Subbarayudu Konanki, who traveled to Punta Cana amid the unfolding search, expressed growing concern about the direction of the investigation.
“They’re only searching the water,” he told CNN. “But I want them to also investigate other possibilities — whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.”
He described his daughter as an ambitious young woman preparing for a career in medicine, and said she had gone out to a beach party in the early hours of Thursday morning with her friends and other guests they met at the resort.
Her absence was first noticed when she failed to return to her room. Friends alerted authorities by Thursday afternoon. The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo contacted local police early Friday.
Search Expands by Land, Sea, and Air
The Dominican Republic’s National Emergency System is leading a multi-agency search in the Bávaro coastal region. Drones equipped with advanced sensors, along with helicopters, rescue teams, the Civil Defense, and the Dominican Navy, are all involved.
Local officials confirmed that resort staff have been cooperating with law enforcement, and that searches have included shoreline, vegetation, and surrounding areas multiple times.
In a statement, the Riu hotel chain expressed “sincere empathy towards the family and friends during this very difficult time” and reaffirmed its commitment to guest safety.
International Support and Diplomatic Efforts
The Embassy of India in Santo Domingo is coordinating with the U.S. State Department and Dominican authorities. The sheriff’s office in Loudoun County, Virginia — where Konanki’s family resides — is assisting in communication with federal agencies.
The University of Pittsburgh confirmed that Konanki was one of six students traveling together and said they are in contact with her family and authorities. “We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely,” the university said in a statement.
Travel Advisory and Safety Concerns
The U.S. State Department has a Level 2 travel advisory in effect for the Dominican Republic, citing violent crime concerns including armed robbery, sexual assault, and homicide. Travelers are urged to remain vigilant and avoid displaying signs of wealth.
Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities in the case, and search efforts are ongoing. Konanki’s father remains hopeful but fears time is running out. “We don’t think she could survive more than three days in the water,” he said. “I think something else might’ve happened.”
