Authorities looking for Sudiksha Konanki, a missing college student, have stated their belief that she may have drowned while on a spring break vacation in the Dominican Republic.
Sudiksha, a 20-year-old student, was last observed on a beach in Punta Cana on March 6, 2025. Several hours later, she was reported missing. Here is a summary of the current information available on the search for her.
Who is Sudiksha Konanki?
Sudiksha Konanki, who hails from Chantilly, Virginia, is a student at the University of Pittsburgh.
Prior to this, she studied Science and Technology at Thomas Jefferson High School.
At the time of her disappearance, she was on a trip with five other friends to celebrate Spring Break.
She arrived in the Dominican Republic on March 3.
The most recent security footage shows Sudiksha on a beach close to the Riu Republica resort in Punta Cana during the early hours of Thursday, March 6.
She was wearing a brown bikini, large hoop earrings, a metal anklet on her leg, yellow and steel bracelets on her right hand, and a beaded bracelet on her left hand.
She has also been described as 5ft 3in, with black hair and brown eyes.
Urgent search
Concerned friends reported Sudiksha Konanki missing around 12 hours later.
A spokesperson told 13 News Now: “Our office was contacted on Thursday evening about a missing female from Loudoun County who was with a group of other people traveling in the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana specifically.”
After a report was made, a search and rescue force began scouring the area where the student was last seen.
A message shared on social media read: “The Orange Search and Rescue Unit, along with other institutions, worked from early Saturday hours, trying to find the whereabouts of the young woman, Sudiksha Konanki, without success.”
The search resumed the following day and teams have since combed the sea and scoured other areas including bays and bushes.
Cops fears
On March 10, 2025, officials told ABC News that they believe Sudiksha Konanki is feared to have drowned.
Investigating officers now believe that the 20-year-old and one other individual were caught by a large wave.
Cops report that five women and one man left the beach at around 5.55 am on the morning of March 6, however, Konanki and another man remained at the location.
The man was reportedly seen leaving the beach just before 10am, but there was no sight of the student, CNN reports.
He is now being quizzed by cops as part of the investigation into her disappearance.
US cops disputing the claims
Officers in Loudoun County, Virginia, have since disputed the claims and say that there is ”no evidence” of drowning.
They suspect the conclusion was made because it was her last known location.
Her dad, Subbarayudu, has also spoken out and has slammed officials for ”only looking in the water.”
He said: ”I want them to also investigate other possibilities including whether this is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.”
