Washington: Officials in the North American country Dominican Republic are searching for a missing Indian-American student on land, air and water. 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki went missing in Punta Cana last week. According to CNN report, Dominican National Police said in a statement that 20-year-old US resident Sudiksha Konanki was last seen on surveillance cameras entering the beach near the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana at 4:15 am on Thursday with seven other people. The Dominican National Emergency System is coordinating search efforts for Konanki.
A Dominican National Police source said surveillance footage shows the group of Americans (which included Konanki, five other women and two men) were drinking in the hotel lobby at about 3 a.m. before heading to the beach. "So far, several Dominican Republic officials have searched in the water. They searched using helicopters and other equipment. They also searched near bays, bushes, trees. They went to the same area several times," Konanki's father Subbarayudu said.
How are authorities looking for Sudhiksha Konanki?
The country's search and rescue force, Defensa Civil Dominicana, said on Facebook on Monday that authorities were using sniffer dogs and drones to look for Konanki. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN that authorities were questioning a man in his 20s who is believed to have been the last person to see Konanki last week.
'My daughter has not returned'
Konancki's father told CNN, "She went to the beach on March 6 at around 4 am with her friends and some other people she met at the resort... After that, her friends returned after some time and my daughter did not return, was not seen on the beach."
Konancki was not found - police source
A local police source told CNN that surveillance cameras captured five women and a man leaving the beach at around 5:55 am on Thursday, while Konanki is believed to have stayed behind with another young man.
Translation result
The source said that later surveillance video shows the man leaving the beach area at 9:55 am, but Konanki was not found.
'My daughter did not return'
Konancki's father told CNN, "She went to the beach on March 6 at around 4 am with her friends and some other people she met at the resort... After that, her friends returned after some time and my daughter did not return, was not seen on the beach."
Konancki was not found - police source
A local police source told CNN that surveillance cameras captured five women and a man leaving the beach at around 5:55 am on Thursday, while Konanki is believed to have stayed behind with another young man.
Translation result
The source said that later surveillance video shows the man leaving the beach area at 9:55 am, but Konanki was not found.
Those who were seen on the beach with Konanki have told police several different stories. They said that both of them went into the sea, but they started feeling sick and fell asleep on a lounge chair after getting out of the water.
The source said officers found Konanki's sarong-style cover on a beach lounge chair and said there were no signs of violence. Konanki arrived in the Caribbean country on March 3 with five others, police said, and were informed of her disappearance at 8 a.m. Friday through a call from the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo.
Sudhiksha Konanki's family is originally from India
Konakanki's father said she had gone to Punta Cana for spring break ahead of her premed studies. "My daughter is a very nice girl... she is ambitious. She wanted to pursue a career in medicine," he said. Konanki's father wants local authorities to investigate other possibilities, including whether it is a case of kidnapping or human trafficking.
The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 of 4 travel advisory for the Dominican Republic, advising Americans to exercise increased caution and not show signs of wealth. "Violent crime, including armed robbery, murder, and sexual assault, is a concern throughout the Dominican Republic," the agency said in an advisory issued in June.
According to the Sheriff's Office in Loudoun County, Virginia, Konanki was at the resort with five other female students from the University of Pittsburgh, where her family lives. The Konanki family, originally from India, has been living in the US since 2006 and are permanent residents.
The Indian Embassy is also helping
The University of Pittsburgh has urged anyone with information to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. The Indian Embassy said on Facebook that it is "coordinating with government authorities in the Dominican Republic to investigate the incident."I am providing all the help I can.''
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