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A search across land, air and sea continues for Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student who disappeared during a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic.
Authorities are investigating multiple leads as concerns grow over the circumstances of her disappearance.
Newsweek contacted the Dominican Republic National Police for additional comment.
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What We Know About Sudiksha Konanki
Sudiksha Konanki, 20, is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying medical sciences.
Originally from Virginia, Konanki traveled to Punta Cana with a group of her five female friends on March 3 for spring break vacation.
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"We don't really have any idea exactly what happened after that ... when her friends returned back, and she didn't," Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman told NBC News.
Konanki is 5 feet, 3 inches tall, has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen in the early hours wearing a brown bikini, big round earrings, a metal designer anklet and several bracelets, according to a flyer circulating on social media and shared by Dominican Today, a local English-language news outlet.
Her father Subbarayudu Konanki and mother Sreedevi Konanki flew to Punta Cana with two family friends after they learned she had disappeared. A record of complaint filed Sunday, March 9, stated that she left her belongings, including her phone and wallet, with friends, which was "unusual" for her.
When Did Sudiksha Konanki Go Missing?
Konanki was last seen around 4:15 a.m. on March 6, entering the beach area near the RIU Republica hotel where she and her friends were staying.
According to police, surveillance footage captured Konanki walking towards the shoreline alone after her friends had returned to the hotel. When she failed to return by the morning, her companions reported her missing.
Authorities launched an extensive search operation involving drones, helicopters, boats, and canine units, but as of March 10, she remains missing.
Police Investigating Individual Spotted Near Konanki
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have questioned a man who was seen near the beach at the time of Konanki's disappearance.
According to the Associated Press, the man, whose identity has not been disclosed, has provided a statement to police, though officials have not publicly linked him to any foul play.
Investigators are also analyzing security footage to determine her last known movements.
On Sunday, her father, Subbarayudu, asked police to expand their search.
"It's four days, and if she was in water, she would likely have been strewn to shore," Subbarayudu said, per WTOP-FM. "She's not found, so we're asking them to investigate multiple options, like kidnapping or abduction."
What's Next
Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities in Konanki's disappearance.
Search teams were active in Punta Cana as of March 10, based on images shared by the government office Defensa Civil Dominicana's official social media pages. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as more details emerge.
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