Search Intensifies for Missing Pitt Student Sudiksha Konanki in Dominican Republic
Sudiksha Konanki, a missing Pitt student, is seen in final surveillance footage before disappearing in Punta Cana. She was on spring break, last seen around 4 a.m. on March 6. Extensive searches are underway, with the case being treated as an accident by Dominican authorities. Over 300 individuals are involved in the search, and notable agencies are collaborating in the investigation.
Surveillance footage has emerged revealing the final known moments of Sudiksha Konanki, a student from the University of Pittsburgh, who vanished while vacationing in the Dominican Republic. The video, sourced from Noticias SIN, depicts Konanki walking towards the beach in Punta Cana alongside her friends and two other men.
The 20-year-old was vacationing with friends during spring break and was reported missing later that same day. Authorities have since been conducting extensive searches in both land and water for any indications of Konanki’s whereabouts, with her last sighting recorded at the Riu Republica Hotel around 4 a.m. on Thursday, March 6.
Over 300 individuals are actively participating in the search operation, and the Dominican Republic National Police has established a new, “high-level commission” to manage the investigation into her disappearance. This inquiry also involves the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office from her hometown in Virginia, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, and representatives from the U.S. Embassy.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office recognized the “considerable public speculation” surrounding Konanki’s case, urging caution against forming premature conclusions. Sheriff Mike Chapman stated, “Everybody’s kind of working through this right now… we want to make sure that before we put any information out, that we get it absolutely right.”
Luis Abinader, the President of the Dominican Republic, mentioned that officials are treating the case as an accident. During a press briefing, he expressed concern for Konanki’s situation and reported that, according to the last person who saw her, a wave crashed into them at the beach, contributing to the circumstances of her disappearance.
The disappearance of Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student, has prompted extensive search efforts in the Dominican Republic, fueled by emerging surveillance footage. Several agencies, including local law enforcement and the FBI, are conducting an investigation that is currently treated as an accident. Heightened public interest has been met with caution from officials as they aim to gather accurate information before drawing conclusions.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
