Our Bureau
Santo Domingo
In a shocking turn of events, Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old Indian-origin student from the University of Pittsburgh, has gone missing in the Dominican Republic. Konanki, a permanent U.S. resident and Indian citizen, vanished early on March 6 while on a spring break trip with friends in Punta Cana. The incident has sparked a massive search operation involving authorities from the Dominican Republic, the U.S., and India.
Konanki was last seen on a beach near the Riu República Hotel, where she had been staying with her group. Surveillance footage shows her walking towards the beach with friends at around 4:15 a.m. on the day of her disappearance. A man, identified as Joshua Steven Ribe, was reportedly the last person to see her. Ribe claimed they went for a swim and got caught by a big wave, but his accounts have varied, raising questions about the circumstances of her disappearance.
The search efforts have been intensified, with over 300 personnel involved, including officers, specialists, and aquatic search teams. Authorities have also found Konanki’s clothes on a beachside bed, but no evidence of violence has been reported. Despite these findings, her family suspects other possibilities, including kidnapping or human trafficking, and have urged authorities to broaden the investigation.
Dominican President Luis Abinader has assured that all government agencies are involved in the search, emphasizing the country’s commitment to safety. The FBI has joined the investigation, working closely with local authorities. As the search enters its sixth day, concerns about Konanki’s safety continue to grow, with her family and friends anxiously awaiting news of her whereabouts.
