The desperate search continues for Sudiksha Konanki, 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic on March 6, 2025.
Konanki, an aquarium employee and junior biology major as well as a member of the South Asian group Avaaz, was last seen about 4:15 a.m. near the beach of the Riu Republica Resort. According to officials, she stayed on with the people she had met on the trip after her friends returned to the hotel.
The search is being coordinated by authorities, including the Dominican National Police, the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard with a multi-agency search effort. Incluye también la utilización de vehículos aéreos no trikinetos, de helicópteros, de buzos y de unidades caninas. The extensive search, however, has failed to produce anything of substance. 
A person of interest has been named and questioned and while officials want to reiterate that this remains a missing person case — not a criminal case. Dominican authorities have ocean currents being tracked and has spoken to people last seen on scene with Konanki.
Konanki’s family made a trip to Punta Cana to help but has since returned to Virginia. Indian EMBassy, University of Pittsburgh are also funding the investigation.
“We are going with the assumption she is still alive,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Micahel Chapman.
The search has now been extended to Macao Beach as authorities investigate Konanki’s phone records and communication. At the same time, an Interpol yellow notice has been sent to international law enforcement.
The investigation is still ongoing, as there is still a hope her safe back.
