A missing University of Pittsburgh student who vanished while on spring break in the Dominican Republic is believed to have died by drowning.
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, was traveling to the Caribbean country with five other Pittsburgh students, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which said she and one of the other students is from the Virginia county.
She was last seen on the beach wearing a bikini outside of the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana on security camera footage around 4.50am on Thursday.
Three Dominican officials involved in the investigation have since told ABC News that she was walking on the beach with six people the night before.
Most of the group returned to the hotel at some point during the night, but one person stayed behind with Konanki on the beach, according to an investigative report obtained by the network.
She and this person eventually went for a swim and were caught by a big wave.
But Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Thomas Julia questioned the report, telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that speculation Konanki drowned may be ‘based on her last known location near the beach.’
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, is believed to have drowned while on spring break in the Dominican Republic
Three Dominican officials involved in the investigation have since said she was walking on the beach with six people the night before
‘But [there]s] no evidence to support that conclusion at this time,’ he claimed.
‘The investigation is looking at everything from an accident to foul play and interviews are ongoing, along with review of video and phone records,’ Julia continued.
‘The best outcome is that she is found alive and well.’
Police have already spoken with Konanki’s friends to establish exactly where a maritime search should be focused, according to CNN.
They said that Konanki told them she was heading to a party at the resort on Wednesday night, and her friends alerted authorities when she wasn’t in her room the following morning.
She was last seen wearing a two-piece bikini, large round earrings, a metal designer anklet on her right leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right wrist and multi-colored bracelets on her left.
A recent image of her showed her matching that description.
Konanki was last seen on the beach wearing a bikini outside of the Riu Republica Resort in Punta Cana on security camera footage around 4.50am on Thursday
Police have already spoken with Konanki’s friends to establish exactly where a maritime search should be focused
The pre-med student is expected to graduate from the university in 2026, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Prior to college, she attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.
‘My daughter is a very nice girl. She’s ambitious,’ her father, Subbarayudu Konanki said. ‘She wanted to pursue a career in medicine.’
The US State Department is now working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which has taken the lead in the investigation as Konanki is an Indian citizen who was a permanent US resident, Julia said.
That investigation will include further interviews with other students, family members and others in the Dominican Republic and Loudoun County.
Meanwhile, Jared Stonesifer, a spokesperson for the University of Pittsburgh, said school officials have been in contact with Konanki’s family as well as local officials.
‘We have offered our full support in their efforts to find her and bring her home safely,’ Stonesifer said.
‘Anyone with information is urged to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.’
The US State Department is now working with the Indian embassy in the Dominican Republic, which has taken the lead in the investigation as Konanki is an Indian citizen who was a permanent US resident
Those at the Riu Republica Resort have also had to contend with no electricity, no running water and scarce food
News of Konanki’s disappearance comes months after the US State Department issued a level two travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, warning Americans to exercise increased caution when visiting the country.
‘Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic,’ the department said in its June travel advisory.
It went on to warn US visitors to be aware of their surroundings, and not to display any signs of wealth.
Those at the Riu Republica Resort have also had to contend with no electricity, no running water and scarce food.
One vacationer claimed that Wi-Fi was also down, noting that ‘people are in the lobby charging their phones.’
Some tourists even had to charge their devices and use fans behind the receptionist desk at the resort, another person shared online.
A group of women staying at the resort were also seen sitting in the dark as they ate a meal that they managed to ‘scavenge together.’
‘They have one restaurant to feed a couple thousand people,’ another said.
