Search Intensifies for Missing University of Pittsburgh Student in Dominican Republic
Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, is missing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Local authorities suggest accidental drowning, but her family disputes this, prompting calls for further investigation. An extensive search is underway, involving multiple agencies and community support through social media posts.
Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old pre-med student from the University of Pittsburgh, went missing in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during a spring break trip with friends. Authorities have labeled her disappearance as an accidental drowning. However, her family is skeptical, citing that her body should have surfaced if that were the case, raising concerns about her safety.
Local officials reported seeing Konanki with a group on surveillance footage on March 5. After she and one person went swimming at 4:15 AM, her friends returned to their resort, marking the last known sighting of her. Following her disappearance, authorities initiated an extensive search using helicopters and boats, prompted when her friends could not locate her later that day.
Investigators have interviewed her companions and the individual she was with before vanishing. Although her belongings were discovered on a portable bed without indications of foul play, her parents have requested an increased search effort fearing a potential crime, including kidnapping. Currently, various agencies, including the FBI and local law enforcement, are involved in the ongoing investigation.
Konanki holds legal permanent residency in the US and is an Indian citizen, which has drawn the involvement of the Indian Embassy in the investigation. Family members are actively utilizing social media to mobilize support in finding her, as her parents have traveled to Punta Cana to assist in the search.
The search for Sudiksha Konanki continues amidst conflicting theories regarding her disappearance. While the authorities claim an accidental drowning, her family remains unconvinced and is pursuing further investigations, including the possibility of a crime. Coordinated efforts involving multiple agencies underscore the seriousness of the situation as community support grows through social media initiatives.
Original Source: newsindiatimes.com
